you've all been arguing over a bloody spelling mistake! I intended trompe l'oeil..
says CK.

CK, no matter it was a slip by your good self, a quick google will show thet the two terms are used interchangeably. It is perfectly valid to question which term is (or whether both are) correct.

And it's a shame that the Renaissance photographer's film got spoilt at the developers. I suppose that any "deceit of the eye" must be to a large degree "photographically realistic". I agree that the vast body of trompe l'oeil work is of the nature you describe, I just don't think that the term has ever been limited to it. But I wasn't around at the time, and it is a very small point to be arguing about. We could start the "War of Tromp's eye" if you like?

Rod