Smarthistory Louis Carrogis de Carmontelle, Figures Walking in a Parkland Getty Conversations [Video]

0:00:04.3 Dr. Beth Harris: We’re in the painting conservation studio at the Getty Museum, and we’re looking at a twelve-and-a-half-foot drawing with watercolor and gouache. If we were looking at it in the late 18th century, we would only be seeing a small part at a time.

0:00:19.0 Danielle Canter: The artist Carmontelle created a optical device that allowed you to experience this very long drawing scene by scene. He created a box very similar to this, where the drawing would have been placed inside rolled around two scrolls on either end. The box could then be opened at the front to allow viewers to see the drawing and another door would be opened to the back to allow daylight to stream in. This would be placed in a window with large curtains blocking out all other light, so it’s almost as if you’re in a darkened theater. And then …