|
Visitor Center Union Army Confederate Army Copse of Trees Devil's Den Little Round Top East Calvary Field Big Round Top Spanglers Spring Triangle Field The Peach Orchard The "Bloody" Wheatfield The National Tower Culp's Hill Eternal Light Peace Memorial Reynold's Woods Benner's Hill Pickett's Charge National Cemetery and Evergreen Cemetery Battle in the Town McPherson's Ridge Railroad Cut 
Homes on the Battlefield
Re-enactors Credits Links Lodging Ghost's of Gettysburg Mailing List Other Battles of The Civil War |
The Gettysburg Cyclorama ia a colossial panoramic painting of "POickett's Charge,the climax of the battle on July 3rd 1863.Completed in 1884, the painting is one of the few cycloramas left in the world today. Surrounding the viewer completely, the painting recreates in vivid detail the fighting known as the"High Water Mark of the Confederacy". Frenchman Paul Dominique Philippoteaux,born in 1846,was a well known cyclorama artist of his time. Almost all cyclorama artists were european, and Philippoteaux was considered among the best. He was trained in art by his father,felix, with whom he produced several cycloramas in europe, including "The Battle of Waterloo"."The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ" is the only other remaining Philippoteaux cyclorama on display. It is at St. Anne-de-Beaupre,near Quebec.Chicago buisnessman Charles Willoughby commissioned Philippoteaux to paint a cyclorama of "The Battle of Gettysburg. In 1882 Philippoteaux visited the battlefield to gather information. He hired local photographer William Tipton for his lanscape studies,made sketches,talked to veterans of the battle and viewed the official records in Washington D.C. With this information,he returned to his studio in Europe and, with five assistants began the actual artwork. He was educated at the College Henri IV. and at the Ecole des beaux arts in Paris, also studying art in the studios of his father, Felix Philippoteaux, Leon Cogniet, and Alexander Cabanal. Mr. Philippoteaux made numerous sketches for Guizot's "History of France " and for the works of Alphonse Daudet, Alexandre Dumas, and Jules Verne. He was associated with his father in the production of the cyclorama of the "Siege of Paris," originally exhibited in Paris, and in 1883 he produced "The Battle of Gettysburg," which was shown in Chicago, and was the first cy-clorama of the civil war that was made. This was one of the earliest paintings of this description to be made, and was produced by means of photography. The locality to be represented is first visited and from an elevated structure sweeping the entire horizon a series of photographs are taken, giving a continuous view of the place. These are then adjusted by pasting together the ends of the photographs, and the panorama becomes a cyclorama, affording an accurate guide for the enlargement on the grand scale contemplated for the painting. After it is mounted, in the foreground of the picture real grass, shrubs, figures, and other appliances are skilfully blended with the middle distance, so that it is impossible with the unaided eye to determine where one ends and the other begins.
In 1942 The National Park Service at Gettysburg aquired the rights to the painting under an agreement to the heirs of the Hahne estate. By this time the painting had deterioted to a critical condition and temporary restoration work took place. With the 100th Annivarsary of The Battle of Gettysburg approaching fast, a major plan for the restoration of The Gettysburg Cyclorama began in 1959.Thile this 2 1/2 year effort was underway, The National Park Service at Gettysburg constructed a new building for the painting. Completed in 1962, the Cyclorama Center became the new home for the painting,which is now protected with special lighting and climate control. Although preserved today, the painting still reveals years of neglect,standing only 26 feet high and 356 feet in length. But the signifigant portions were saved and restored.
In 1993 a new dramatic sound and light program was installed.This program narrated by the well known and inspiring Richard Dreyfuss was installed to interpret the painting and bring the moment depicted on the painting to life. The digital sound with musket fire and cannon whizzing throughout the painting is very moving with the natural acoustics inside the building. The Light show is just as impressive timed perfectly with the tape presentation.
The information here was off of a NPS flyer with the information courtesy of Dale Gallon Historical Art in Gettysburg PA. Make sure to stop in his Gallery in town on your next visit.
What are people saying about This site! "I had such a good time at the cyclorama. My kids just loved it."Mary Rosen--Rye,NY "Great Website--(No Name given). "Frank I met you on the battlefield. You were such a great help and very knowledgeable! "Jan Konsky--Alden,CA
Copyright © 2001-2005,Gettysburg Battlefield Online
|
