Sotto in su
Sotto in su, in drawing and painting, extreme foreshortening of figures painted on a ceiling or other high surface so as to give the illusion that the figures are suspended in air above the viewer. It is an approach that was developed during the Renaissance, and it was especially favoured by Baroque and Rococo painters, particularly in Italy. Andrea Mantegna, Giulio Romano, Correggio, and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo were outstanding exponents of the technique.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Sotto in su
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
09 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026