A frontal view along Palazzo Spada’s short forced-perspective colonnade, towards a small statue.
Look closely. Let the image settle.
Architectural illusions / 1653

The Corridor That Grows

A short colonnade looks like a much longer passage.

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Compare the front and rear columns. Notice the rising floor and imagine an adult standing beside the statue at the far end.

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History, evidence & image credit

THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Livioandronico2013

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Frequently asked questions

What is The Corridor That Grows?

A short colonnade looks like a much longer passage.

What should I look for in The Corridor That Grows?

Compare the front and rear columns. Notice the rising floor and imagine an adult standing beside the statue at the far end.

What explains The Corridor That Grows?

The columns become smaller, the walls converge and the floor rises towards the end. These physical changes exaggerate the normal perspective of a long corridor. The distant statue offers a misleading sense of scale. A person inside the passage would reveal how compressed it is.

A frontal view along Palazzo Spada’s short forced-perspective colonnade, towards a small statue.

The Corridor That Grows