This stamp shows a hallway in the Palazzo Spada, which was originally built in 1540. Why does it deserve a stamp? Let's let Wikipedia explain.
"The palazzo was purchased by Cardinal Spada in 1632. He commissioned the Baroque architect Francesco Borromini to modify it for him, and it was Borromini who created the masterpiece of forced perspective optical illusion in the arcaded courtyard, in which diminishing rows of columns and a rising floor create the visual illusion of a gallery 37 meters long (it is 8 meters) with a lifesize sculpture at the end of the vista, in daylight beyond: the sculpture is 60 cm high. Borromini was aided in his perspective trick by a mathematician."
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Viridian
6 comments:
Stunning work, and it makes for a fantastic stamp. Eva will enjoy this one :)
What an interesting piece of architectural illusion.
@FinnBadger: you're absolutely right! A beautiful stamp of one of my favourite places in Rome. I didn't know it existed.
ooh,I love a good optical illusion. this would make want to walk from one to the other several times over.
@violet: Actually, walking inside is forbidden, alas.
What a great uilding and a superb stamp.
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