Parrhasius: A Curtain in Trompe-l’oeil

Parrhasius, a 4th century BC painter, is best known for his legendary contest with Zeuxis, as recounted by Pliny. The story goes that Zeuxis painted grapes so lifelike that birds swooped down to peck at them. Not to be outdone, Parrhasius invited Zeuxis to his studio to view his own masterpiece. When Zeuxis tried to pull back the curtain covering the painting, he discovered the curtain itself was the painting. This tale is often cited as one of the earliest examples of trompe-l'oeil in art history.

This anecdote is so ingrained in discussions of ancient Greek painting that I felt compelled to recreate the famous curtain. Luckily, the frescoes of Pompeii provide plenty of inspiration for trompe-l'oeil drapery.