Printed Ephemera — 1842
Panorama
Description and illustrated plan of the panoramic view of the City of Edinburgh as exhibited at the Panorama on Leicester Square in 1842. Stored within buff covers with a handwritten title, this booklet comprises a sixteen page written description and a folded illustrated plan and 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:
- 67.35/40
- Object name:
- panorama
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- J. Mitchell and Co. (Late Brettell)
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1842
- Material:
paper, ink, textile
- Measurements/duration:
- H 215 mm, L 136 mm (closed), H 327 mm, L 591 mm (open), H 213 mm, W 135 mm (cover)
- 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.