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Monday 5 September 2011

Trompe l'oeil

Knaresborough, when I visited, had just had an Arts Festival.  Dotted all around the town were these rather marvellous trompe l'oeil features, a project that originated as part of the Festival a few years ago but which has been futher developed by Renaissance Knaresborough. (Click on each to really appreciate them).


 A secret tunnel at the railway station..
 Doors and windows..                     



                                            Even Mother Shipton herself!                                               
 

Apparently the town is well suited to this, as many of the Georgian buildings have 'blind windows' - bricked up windows.  There are various theories about these - maybe they were a way of avoiding window tax, or simply used to keep the symmetry of the buildings without the expense of glass.

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16 comments:

  1. Diane5 September 2011 at 07:20

    These look fab! I have always loved Knaresborough - and your posts have brought back memories for me. It looked a really gorgeous day when you visited. I love the way you are picking up Granny tips. xxxxxx

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  2. Malyss5 September 2011 at 07:26

    I like all those trompe-l'oeil, they are really fantastic!

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  3. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"5 September 2011 at 07:59

    I've seen lots of windows like this but never anything as elaborate as the "tunnel" - fantastic!

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  4. John5 September 2011 at 10:03

    The tunnel has to be the winner; there must be a project and a photo-book in there somewhere.

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  5. diane b5 September 2011 at 11:57

    Good idea for the blind windows,

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  6. Desiree5 September 2011 at 14:50

    I absolutely love wall murals and the ones you have shared here are so well done, they almost certainly deceived my eyes!

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  7. Jack5 September 2011 at 15:18

    Excellent, Jenny. Maybe those were originally functioning doors and windows but later bricked over when wall space inside was needed more. In the historic neighborhood of German Village in Columbus, Ohio, where I lived for a while, there were many bricked over doors and windows as renovations inside changed things.

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  8. Gattina5 September 2011 at 15:57

    That's terrific ! it looks so true !

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  9. MorningAJ5 September 2011 at 20:32

    Those are brilliant. What a great idea.

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  10. RedPat6 September 2011 at 01:28

    They are wonderful!

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  11. Valerie6 September 2011 at 01:37

    What extraordinarily gifted artists to produce these amazing works of art. Have to admit that the detail in the tunnel won me over!

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  12. Vicki Lane6 September 2011 at 02:05

    What fun and how well done! I love the tunnel!

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  13. Genie -- Paris and Beyond6 September 2011 at 02:40

    I love these and the tunnel was my favorite. I hope that these remain throughout the year as they brighten a blank brick wall.

    Perhaps the bricked-up windows were an unintended consequence of "window taxes."

    Bises,
    Genie

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  14. Cranberry Morning6 September 2011 at 02:50

    Love trompe l'oeil! Isn't it fun! Thanks for all the photos. Window tax?

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  15. Lili9 September 2011 at 00:16

    These are fascinating! ~Lili

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  16. Francisca9 September 2011 at 15:03

    Delightful trompe l'oeil! I enlarged each one.

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