
The Panorama
Bernard Comment(Author)
Reaktion Books (Publisher)
Published on 1. April 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-86189-123-5 (ISBN)
Description
Invented in 1788, the panorama reached the height of its popularity at the time of the 1900 Universal Exhibition. Vast circular canvases installed in purpose-built rotundas were designed to be viewed from centrally placed platforms and attracted an admiring public. The aim was to produce a perfect illusion. Thus the relationship between viewer and 'reality' underwent a profound mutation, opening up a new logic according to which the world was transformed into a spectacle and images substituted for direct experience.
This lavishly illustrated book examines the wide variety of panoramas in both the Old and New Worlds. Included among views of cities are Robert Barker's View of Edinburgh and Karl Friedrich Schinkel's View of Palermo, as well as depiction of Paris, Moscow, Jerusalem and Lima; among historical themes, The History of the Century and Battle of Moscow proved especially popular. The author expands his subject to encompass the sister formats of diorama and cineorama.
This lavishly illustrated book examines the wide variety of panoramas in both the Old and New Worlds. Included among views of cities are Robert Barker's View of Edinburgh and Karl Friedrich Schinkel's View of Palermo, as well as depiction of Paris, Moscow, Jerusalem and Lima; among historical themes, The History of the Century and Battle of Moscow proved especially popular. The author expands his subject to encompass the sister formats of diorama and cineorama.
Reviews / Votes
. . . this book is wonderfully illustrated * <i>The Guardian</i> *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
171 illustrations, 83 in colour
Dimensions
Height: 275 mm
Width: 220 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-86189-123-5 (9781861891235)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Bernard Comment, born in Switzerland, lives and works in Paris. He is the author of L'ombre de memoire (1990), Roland Barthes, vers le neuter (1991) and Allees et venues (1992), which won the Prix Antigone in 1993.