2007-12-04, Town of Deception

On the Italian coast, colored-houses build down the hillside, soaking up the sun as they face the sea. But look closely, and you'll notice that something is a little strange. In Comokolly, the art of illusion is everywhere. This fishing village near Genoa is living museum of Trompe Loeil literally¹ to trick the eye. And it does get tricky². Windows open in solid walls, elaborate stone work, that isn't. And while some flowers fade, others stay fresh for years.

Comokolly's fishermen originally painted their houses in bright colors and unusual designs, so they could recognize them from the water. In the 18th century, however, it became a way to make small simple buildings seem luxurious³ and grand. There're thousands of Trompe Loeil houses in this region, but only a handful of artists still painting them. Raffaella Stacca learned painting from her grandmother. Using classical methods on her own modern designs, she gives house-painting a whole new meaning.
"These painting facades⁴ are typical of Liguria, really typical. But for a while it seemed like no one was doing them anymore. "
It's taken 20years to prefect her technique of recreating stone. So that it looks real, even from close-up. Like most painters, she learned Trompe Loeil from other artists, not in school. But with few artists, there are fewer teachers and fewer places to learn.
Carlo Pere has made a business out of making the surreal real. Buyers for his imaginary terraces and bogus balconies often live in small houses or city apartments. Pere's job is to improve the view.

"Trompe Loeil means bringing the land to the sea, or the sea to the mountains, or vice⁵ versa. "
Pere's technique comes out of an art handbook from the 14th century, even his paints have the stamp of history, he uses only pure pigments⁶ mixed by hand. It keeps tradition alive. In Comokelly the local culture is still in plain view, from the bay to the bar, you just might not believe your eyes.

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

3 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

4 facades   

n.（房屋的）正面( facade的名词复数 )；假象，外观

参考例句：

• Terraces of asphalt are placed by the building's south and west facades. 沥青露台位于建筑的南面和西面。 来自互联网
• Preserving historic buildings or keeping only their facades (or fronts) grew common. 保存历史建筑或是保持它们普通的正面增长。 来自互联网

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 pigments   

n.（粉状）颜料( pigment的名词复数 )；天然色素

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls. 古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。 来自辞典例句
• The original white lead pigments have oxidized and turned black. 最初的白色铅质颜料氧化后变成了黑色。 来自辞典例句