Printed Ephemera — 1842
Panorama
Description and illustrated plan of the panoramic view of the city of Cabul as exhibited at the Panorama on Leicester Square in 1842. Stored within blue covers with a handwritten title, this booklet comprises a twelve page written description and a folded illustrated plan with a key.
Opened in 1793, Barker’s panorama on Leicester Square was pioneering in its display of works; until this point panorama’s had been displayed in rented rooms not built for purpose, Barker wanted to create a space which would transport the visitor.
Entering the purpose built rotunda through dark and disorientating corridors, visitors would emerge from a spiral staircase onto a viewing platform in the centre of the display. From this platform they could view the 360° panorama, enhanced by specially diffused lighting and 3D embellishments. So effective were Barker’s efforts to create an immersive environment that some visitors reportedly suffered what Stephen Oettermann referred to as ‘see-sickness’.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 67.35/38
- Object name:
- panorama
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Nichols, G.
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1842
- Material:
paper, ink, textile
- Measurements/duration:
- H 214 mm, 136 mm (guide, closed), H 214 mm, L 259 mm (guide, open), H 187 mm, L 107 mm (plan, closed), H 285 mm, L 446 mm (plan, open)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 80%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.