Printed Ephemera — 1848
Description of a view of the Ruins of the City of Pompeii
Description and illustrated plan of the panoramic view of the city of Pompeii as exhibited at the Panorama on Leicester Square in 1848. 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:
- 67.35/56
- Object name:
- Description of a view of the Ruins of the City of Pompeii
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Nichols, G.
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1848
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 212 mm, W 140 mm (guide, closed), H 212 mm, W 278 mm (guide, open), H 196 mm, W 128 mm (plan, closed), H 315 mm, W 503 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.