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The painted false dome in Sant’Ignazio, Rome, photographed from a viewpoint that makes it appear to rise above the ceiling.
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Sant’Ignazio’s painted dome seen from an off-axis viewpoint, with the apparent dome visibly distorted.
Away from the intended viewpoint, the dome’s perspective no longer matches the architecture beneath it. Image: Amchupa · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0. Commons size rendition; viewing previews may be resized.
Architectural illusions / 1685

The False Dome of Sant’Ignazio

A painted surface stands in for a church dome.

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Use “Compare another viewpoint” to see the same painted dome from a second position. Notice how convincing architectural depth becomes a distorted image.

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THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Amchupa

Original file & attribution · CC BY-SA 4.0

This locally stored image is a Wikimedia Commons rendition (resized or rendered from the source file). The full original is linked from the source record. Gallery previews may be resized or converted to WebP; animated previews show the first frame.

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Frequently asked questions

What is The False Dome of Sant’Ignazio?

A painted surface stands in for a church dome.

What should I look for in The False Dome of Sant’Ignazio?

Use “Compare another viewpoint” to see the same painted dome from a second position. Notice how convincing architectural depth becomes a distorted image.

What explains The False Dome of Sant’Ignazio?

Anamorphic perspective makes the image appear to rise into a curved volume. The illusion changes when the observer leaves its intended viewpoint.

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The painted false dome in Sant’Ignazio, Rome, photographed from a viewpoint that makes it appear to rise above the ceiling.

The False Dome of Sant’Ignazio