Tromp L’oeilis French for “deceives the eye” and is used to create a visual illusion that tricks the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object. The first examples of tromp l’oeil date back to the ancient Greeks and Romans (as at Pompeii) who used to paint illusionary architecture and gardens to make enclosed spaces seem as if they opened out onto mythological, realistic or fantasy landscapes. Due to the advances in the study of perspective which took place during the Renaissance, such illusionary painting became even more realistic and ambitious.

Many of Italy’s oldest pharmacies have preserved tromp l’oeil paintings on their walls. Sartoretto Verna wants to breath new life in this ancient tradition by painting personalised tromp l’oeils onto the semi-circular counters of natural products that identify with herbal medicines and other complementary therapies thereby attracting customers.

One of our goals is to make each pharmacy unique. This uniqueness can only be obtained by adding individual details.

The subjects of the tromp l’oeils include the plant extracts, flowers, and fruits that are present in herbal medicines, the pharmacy’s logo and landscapes or still lives that characterise the pharmacy’s surroundings. Every drawing is presented to the client as a draft and then hand made by an artist.