Museo Galileo
italiano
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Virtual Museum
Optical toy
    • Setting:
      Room IX
    • Maker:
      Artist unknown
    • Author:
      unknown
    • Date:
      17th cent.
    • Materials:
      wood
    • Dimensions:
      375x490 mm
    • Inventory:
      3688
    • Optical toy (Inv. 3688)
    • Optical toy (Inv. 3688)

A wooden board to which wooden strips are fixed lengthwise and crosswise. Both the strips and board are painted in such a way that three different figures will appear, depending on the viewer's position. If we stand in front of the board, we will see the image of the Virgin and Child; if we look at the board from the right, we will see the Virgin alone; if we look from the left, we will see a figure of a saint.