Quadratura and sotto-in-su illusionism in Baroque painting in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on a challenging type of drawing and painting which emerged in Italy during the 16th century. This special form of illusionistic painting is known as quadratura, in which fictitious architecture is painted onto a ceiling, acting as a continuative extension of real architecture. The other subject of this study is the extreme form of perspective drawing known as sotto-in-su, whereby painted figures and architecture in ceiling paintings are viewed by the observer as if to be seen from below. Quadratura and sotto-in-su, thus, create an optical illusion by which the observer visually perceives an image that differs from objective reality. This challenging type of drawing and painting started to appear in Malta during the mid-17th century, and reached its end in the late-18th century. The major works found around the islands have here been compiled into one volume, and are thoroughly discussed in terms of their technical dexterity in the scientific study of mathematical and geometric perspective as well as draughtsmanship. What is the history of this method of painting? Who were the artists who carried out these paintings? What techniques did these artists use to create such illusions? These are a few questions that will be discussed in this research. The individual works of art have been thoroughly studied by major scholars, but this is one of the first attempts to focus specifically on quadratura and sotto-in-su illusionism in Baroque painting in Malta.