Belvedere

In architecture, an open-roofed story built to provide a scenic view. It may also be a summerhouse, which is roofed but open; a gazebo.(pr. BEL-və-DEER)A curious example: Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972), Belvedere, 1958, lithograph, 8 1/4 x 11 5/8 inches (462 x 295 mm), National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. This belvedere has three stories, but its drawing results in an optical illusion. Escher has employed a hybrid of linear perspective that produces a mixture of two possibilities. Note how the pillars connect the second to the third story.Also see balcony and portico.