Conserving reflections of the American Civil War: case study of a nineteenth-century panorama box

Summary Panorama boxes have long been an integral part of the development of peepshows. Since the fifteenth century peepshows have presented the viewer with a different way to look at art. Traditional art often uses direct reflected light and static compositions to help transmit an idea to the viewer whereas peepshows use a wide range of techniques such as transmitted light, mirrors, illusions, etc to help the viewer interpret a work. Panorama boxes appeared in the eighteenth century and gave the viewer extended views of life in cities or important events, for example. They were also small inventions used for simple amusement in one's daily life. This paper reviews the conservation of a type of nineteenth-century panorama box called a ‘Myriopticon’ that recounts important events during the American Civil War. The paper also takes a brief historical look at the development of the panorama box and some of their more interesting designs.