While on our 2010 visit to Gettysburg we viewed the battlefield through 21st century eyes, on our recent visit to Gettysburg, we viewed it through 19th century eyes via the Cyclorama.
CYCLORAMA HISTORY
In the 19th century, cycloramas were a popular form of entertainment.
However, the tragedy of the Civil War transformed the cyclorama from the art form of entertainment to memorial, because veterans wanted to tell their story.
The ultimate form of telling their story was played out in this unique form of theater.
By nature, cycloramas were larger than life, with tremendously sized paintings that encircled audiences, allowing them to feel immersed in the subject matter.
To elevate the art to a 3D effect, live objects were placed in front of the paintings.
FRENCH ARTIST
In the late 19th century, the acclaimed French painter Paul Philippoteaux undertook what became known as the greatest work of his life, the Cyclorama of The Battle of Gettysburg.
Nine months of research in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania included sketching scenes of the area, studying maps, and interviewing veterans.
Two more years of painting in Paris yielded his piece de resistance.
My 1884 program describes it as: four hundred feet long and fifty feet high, consequently measuring 20,000 square feet.
Souvenirs that I purchased included: the 1884 program of 48 pages (in pink in the photo below) and a string of postcards with images of the Cyclorama front and back of each of the panels.
Here, again, you see an image of the pink program in the museum exhibit.
After a short movie of the Battle of Gettysburg, we entered a large room where we stood on a stage facing the Cyclorama.
EXPERIENCING THE CYCLORAMA
We were free to walk around and take pictures as the lights and sound effects brought the paintings to life…
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
