Trompe l'Oeil of a Framed Print of Mary with the Child 1676 - 1695

Franz de Hamilton created this oil-on-canvas painting, Trompe l'Oeil of a Framed Print of Mary with the Child, in the late 17th century. De Hamilton presents us with an illusion, a painted imitation of a framed print. During this period, the artistic and intellectual circles across Europe, including those in the Netherlands where De Hamilton lived, were deeply engaged in debates about representation and reality. This was driven by developments in science and philosophy. The concept of ‘Trompe-l’oeil’, which means ‘deceives the eye’ in French, was more than just a clever trick. It reflected a fascination with the nature of perception. The framed print within the painting depicts Mary and the infant Jesus, a common subject in Christian art. To understand this work better, scholars might research the history of printmaking, or the religious beliefs of the time. The painting's meaning is shaped by the cultural context in which it was made.