How many times have we not spilled out into a kind of hypnotism when looking at a painting or any other object that creates an optical illusion?
That’s what happened to a mother and daughter when they were enjoying a 400-year-old painting on display today at the National Gallery in London, reported msn.com.
The painting is entitled “Portrait of a Child” by the Dutch artist Ferdinand Bol in the 17th century, and the visitors discovered “Nike shoes” on the child’s feet – an unusual detail, given that the sports brand was founded in 1964, in the middle of the 20th century.
Fiona Foskett, the elder of the two women, spotted an anachronistic detail in the painting and commented to her daughter Holly as they looked closely at the oil painting.
“Wait, is that boy wearing a pair of Nike’s!” explained the woman, who, looking at the age of the painting, couldn’t believe it.
“Must he have had the first pair of Nike trainers ever made, or is he actually a time traveller?” the assistant asked her, according to the source.
In reality, it was neither one nor the other, but the alleged Nike shoes have the detail of a silver buckle with its tongue, on which light is reflected, creating the optical illusion.
The National Gallery in London was happy about the impact of the painting.
“We are delighted that this image has been such a hit with our users,” said a spokesman for the British art gallery.
Experts indicate that the person who posed for “Portrait of a Child” was Frederick Sluysken, identified as the second cousin of the painter’s wife and the son of a wealthy wine merchant.
At the time of the portrait the child was eight years old.
