The French term means trick of the eye. It refers to something painted to look like something else, often on a large scale. This building used to be a shoe warehouse, once a major industry here. (Back when St. Louis was important enough to have two major league baseball teams and Budweiser wasn't owned by Belgians, it was said that our city was "first in shoes, first in brews and last in the American League.)
This building is now a Sheraton hotel and luxury loft apartments. The wall painting precedes that redevelopment. I find it interesting that the statue of St. Louis, King Louis IX of France, is very similar but not identical to the iconic landmark in Forest Park. This one has a sword raised in its left hand and looks to the right. The one in the park is the opposite. Note also the eagle that seems to be flying by the building on the far left.
This building is now a Sheraton hotel and luxury loft apartments. The wall painting precedes that redevelopment. I find it interesting that the statue of St. Louis, King Louis IX of France, is very similar but not identical to the iconic landmark in Forest Park. This one has a sword raised in its left hand and looks to the right. The one in the park is the opposite. Note also the eagle that seems to be flying by the building on the far left.
