Borromini’s Forced Perspective
 Palazzo spada, prospettiva di borromini, 03.jpg by Wikimedia Commons
A palace worthy of sightseeing, the Palazzo Spada holds an extra gem for visitors hoping to be wowed by the property. When the palace was purchased in 1632 by Cardinal Spada, he commissioned a renovation, asking Francesco Borromini to remodel parts of it for him.
With the help of a mathematician, Borromini constructed an optical illusion, creating an arched walkway that appears to be much larger and longer than it actually is. At just 8 meters long, the gallery seems to be 37 feet long. The same effect is used on the sculpture centered at the end of the tunnel, which looks life-sized but is only 60 centimeters tall. This illusion is created by sloping the floor gradually upward while decreasing the size of the columns on either side. The forced perspective stands majestically in the courtyard of Palazzo Spada. The palace is also home to a museum with ornately frescoed walls inside. The Gallery was originally compiled in the 17th century, containing artworks from the 16th and 17th centuries. |
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