ANAMORPHOSES. Set of seven anamorphoses, watercolor and ink - Lot 18

ANAMORPHOSES. Set of seven anamorphoses, watercolor and ink on paper, featuring theater characters including Commedia dell'arte. Some signed illegibly. Legended on the reverse "Scaramouche", "Un cardinal", "Un guerrier", "Le maresant de balest", "Oublieux", "Un homme en manteau", "Arlequin". Various formats. 18th century (Dim.: 27 x 36 cm) (missing mirror, tears and wetness). (An engraving of a harlequin, captioned "Arlequain" on the reverse, is included.) The principle of anamorphosis, invented by Piero Della Francesca, consists in creating a work distorted by a cylindrical glass, stretching the lines vertically and horizontally until they become illegible to the viewer. Placed behind a cylindrical mirror, whose location is indicated on the board, it reveals itself to the observer. Without it, the viewer sees only inconsistent elements. Today, anamorphosis is used by contemporary artists such as JR and Felice Varini.