The small canvas, A Plate of Onions (1889), predates the other work by De Scott Evans adapted on this blog. Whereas A new variety try one epitomizes the trompe l’oeil style for which the artist was renowned, the onion painting illustrates his mastery of texture from the wispy roots to the crinkly skin and smooth...

Trompe l’oeil paintings have a long history within the realm of the visual arts. The French phrase translates to ‘trick the eye’ and it dates back to the Roman era, where it was used to create doors and windows within highly detailed murals. An ancient Greek story recounts a competition between the rivals Zeuxis and...