This summer, I visited my family in Hungary. During my visit I explored the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest in order to find trompe l’oeil paintings. I found three incredible pieces, each created by a different artist. I was familiar with one of them and was delighted to discover two other artists.

Let me start with this amazing plaster cast relief depiction by Jozsef Marastoni (1834-1895). Painted sculptures and reliefs were popular in the 18th century trompe l’oeil genre. Art students practiced copying these objects using the grisaille technique. Marastoni’s painting “Allegory of Bacchus” is a great example of such a painting. This painting is a stunningly lifelike masterpiece.

Allegory of Bacchus by Jozsef Marastoni (1855), Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria)

The second painting I want to introduce is by Swiss artist Jean-Etienne Liotard. He was not solely a trompe l’oeil painter, but also a prominent figure in Rococo portraiture, renowned for his exquisite pastel portraits. He painted several depictions of plaster reliefs.

Trompe L’oeil with a Relief by Jean-Etienne Liotard (1760s), Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest (Szépművészeti Múzeum)

Lastly, I want to show this painting by Carlo Leopoldo Sferini also known as Carlo Tedesco. He was originally from Germany, but lived in Verona. Sferini was among the first artists in Italy to explore the trompe l’oeil genre.

Trompe-l'œil Still Life with a Painting, a Drawing and Painter's Tools by Carlo Leopoldo Sferini (1677), Museum of Fine Arts Budapest (Szépművészeti Múzeum)

If you ever find yourself wandering through a museum, keep an eye out for these extraordinary trompe l’oeil pieces. Although I have been in these two museums before, I haven’t paid much attention to finding this genre. I’d love to hear which one of these paintings you like the most and why.