DI SOTTO IN SÙ

A ceiling painting technique whereby figures are heavilyforeshortenedto appear to be floating above the viewer.Andrea Mantegnaused the technique on the ceiling of theCamera Pictain the Ducal Palace in Mantua (1465-1474), andMelozzo da Forliintroduced the method toRomein hisapse frescoesin the Church of Santi Apostoli (1481-1483; fragments now in Rome, Vatican Pinacoteca and Palazzo Quirinale). InVeniceartists learned to exploit the technique to achieve greater veracity.Paolo Veroneseshowed the underside of the parading horses in theTriumph of

Mordecai(1556; Venice, San Sebastiano), paving the way for the illusionistic ceilings of theBaroqueera, includingGiovanni Lanfranco'sVirginin Glory(1625-1627; Rome, Sant' Andrea della Valle) andPietro da Cortona'sGlorification of the Reign of Pope Urban VIII(1633-1639; Rome, PalazzoBarberini).

See alsoOne-point linear perspective.