The Grand Panorama
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The digital version of the life-sized Panorama was projected to simulate the 19th-century experience on a theatrical stage. As the original score and narrative have been lost over time, they have been recreated and remastered and include new research and points of interest.
The Panorama is a maritime artwork depicting a whaling voyage originating from the port of New Bedford in the mid-19th century. It was painted in 1848, by New Bedford artists Caleb Purrington and Benjamin Russell, who traveled it around the country as a commercial enterprise. The panorama as a form of public entertainment was developed in Europe in the late 18th century and subsequently made its way to the United States after demonstrating its commercial potential to an armchair traveler audience. In the late 1840’s and early 1850’s (proceeding the age of cinema) the Panorama was designed and performed as a moving panorama, a form of entertainment where multiple scrolls moved across a stage similar to how a reel-to-reel film would later be shown. The Panorama drew crowds in the era of public entertainment before moving pictures and films. To celebrate this origin, the exhibition was coupled with dynamic and engaging programming. Live performances, contemporary artistic presentations, and other unique interpretations accompanied educational programs and cultural celebrations. |
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