Scenic Painting - An Ancient Technique From The Old World
Scenic painting has existed since antiquity, when the Greeks and Romans used painted canvases. It really took off during the Renaissance with the invention of perspective by artists such as Brunelleschi and Alberti. This technique gave the illusion of depth and made scenery more realistic.
Painted decors use two-dimensional canvases and panels. Painters used techniques such as trompe-l'œil to create relief effects. They must master light and shadow and understand the laws of perspective. The colours and motifs chosen must correspond to the period and tone of the room.
This painting situates the action in a precise time and place, enriches the story, creates specific moods and intensifies emotions. It can also add symbols or visual metaphors.
Often large and realistic, these canvases are painted on the ground with long brushes and colours made according to traditional recipes. Today, this technique is less common due to high costs and modern technology, but it remains popular in prestigious venues such as the National Opera of Paris.
