Panoramas and Dioramas in America: Painted Scenery as Theatrical Experience, 1700-1900

FAIN: FA-11140-75

Ellwood C. Parry III
Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)

To document and analyze the theatrical landscapes called panoramas and dioramas, for which visitors paid money to store at the painted scenery. These "landscape paintings" were popular diversions from the late 1700' until the end of the 19th century. While the invention of these landscape theaters in Europe has been discussed in a few English, French and German publications, the introduction of these displays into the U.S. and their subsequent effect on our landscape artists has never bee fully documented nor analyzed in any significant detail.