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Panorama – the first Rotunda
- Thread starter Aidan
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Aidan
master brummie
The Siege of Seringapatam (4 May 1799) was the final confrontation of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore. The British achieved a decisive victory after breaching the walls of the fortress at Seringapatam (as Srirangapatna was then known) and storming the citadel. Tippu Sultan, Mysore's ruler, was killed in the action. The British restored the Wodeyar dynasty to the throne after the victory, but retained indirect control of the kingdom.
It is commemorated by the attached painting - The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan by Henry Singlet
It is this Tippu/Tippoo that owned "Tippoo's Tiger", the life-size beast of carved and painted wood, seen in the act of devouring a prostrate European in the costume of the 1790s. Concealed in the bodywork is a mechanical pipe-organ with several parts, all operated simultaneously by a crank-handle emerging from the tiger's shoulder. Inside the tiger and the man are weighted bellows with pipes attached. Turning the handle pumps the bellows and controls the air-flow to simulate the growls of the tiger and cries of the victim. The cries are varied by the approach of the hand towards the mouth and away, as the left arm - the only moving part - is raised and lowered. Another pair of bellows, linked to the same handle, supplies wind for a miniature organ of 18 pipes built into the tiger, with stops under the tail.
After its capture it was displayed in the East India Company's museum from 1808 and is now in the V&A.Watch a video of it here: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/object_stories/Tippoo's_tiger/tippoo_video/index.html
It is commemorated by the attached painting - The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan by Henry Singlet
It is this Tippu/Tippoo that owned "Tippoo's Tiger", the life-size beast of carved and painted wood, seen in the act of devouring a prostrate European in the costume of the 1790s. Concealed in the bodywork is a mechanical pipe-organ with several parts, all operated simultaneously by a crank-handle emerging from the tiger's shoulder. Inside the tiger and the man are weighted bellows with pipes attached. Turning the handle pumps the bellows and controls the air-flow to simulate the growls of the tiger and cries of the victim. The cries are varied by the approach of the hand towards the mouth and away, as the left arm - the only moving part - is raised and lowered. Another pair of bellows, linked to the same handle, supplies wind for a miniature organ of 18 pipes built into the tiger, with stops under the tail.
After its capture it was displayed in the East India Company's museum from 1808 and is now in the V&A.Watch a video of it here: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/object_stories/Tippoo's_tiger/tippoo_video/index.html
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cuppateabiscuit
master brummie
I found this recently too. I think the Richards is a Thomas Richards, a quite well known jeweller at the time whose son was Theophilus Richards. I'm not certain considering the name is quite common, but I thought that he was a likely candidate.
Aidan
master brummie
Thanks Cuppa.
Just been searching what seems to me a new and improved mapseeker site. The Drakes 1825 map clearly shows the panorama building and labels it "Academy". No shocks I know but nice to see it finally on a map before it got changed https://www.mapseeker.co.uk/major-b...&id=1178&mapcode=J078&areaA=a3&areaB=b2#phead
Just been searching what seems to me a new and improved mapseeker site. The Drakes 1825 map clearly shows the panorama building and labels it "Academy". No shocks I know but nice to see it finally on a map before it got changed https://www.mapseeker.co.uk/major-b...&id=1178&mapcode=J078&areaA=a3&areaB=b2#phead
BordesleyExile
master brummie
There is a scene set in a panorama in the film Vincent & Theo, the story of the relationship between Vincent Van Gogh & his brother Theo.
Aidan
master brummie
Wow - great lead thanks - need to get my hands on the film.
A googletranslated site says "Panorama Mesdag states that "virtually certain that Vincent van Gogh to the hasty completion of the panorama canvas as a young assistant has helped a little," says Panorama Mesdag.
It was already known that Van Gogh at the opening of the panorama was present.
Vincent wrote in a letter to his brother Theo that Mesdag panorama but a defect was, that it had no flaws. This phrase is now in a different light."
A googletranslated site says "Panorama Mesdag states that "virtually certain that Vincent van Gogh to the hasty completion of the panorama canvas as a young assistant has helped a little," says Panorama Mesdag.
It was already known that Van Gogh at the opening of the panorama was present.
Vincent wrote in a letter to his brother Theo that Mesdag panorama but a defect was, that it had no flaws. This phrase is now in a different light."
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BordesleyExile
master brummie
Thanks, Aidan. It looks like the people who designed / wrote etc Vincent & Theo did their homework. There were visual references in the film to styles of art & some nice juxtapositions. I certainly remember the panorama scene as being like the one you pictured in post 156. I am afraid the film is pricey and all the more so as there are fewer copies available since I bought mine earlier this year, or perhaps I am not currently using the best DVD search engine.
Aidan
master brummie
It does look a bit pricey - I will wait for the sales.
If you have a spare 10mins or so you can click on this link https://www.panorama-mesdag.com/#pagina=849 and watch Panorama of Scheveningen by Hendrik Willem Mesdag (and Vincent) roll by. Notice the Trompe-l'œil in the foreground. Perhaps play the Don Mclean song in the background.
There does seem to be a special light in that part of Holland https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&...nubhEL_mtGi6eDk9MeL4g&cbp=12,357.21,,0,-11.39
If you have a spare 10mins or so you can click on this link https://www.panorama-mesdag.com/#pagina=849 and watch Panorama of Scheveningen by Hendrik Willem Mesdag (and Vincent) roll by. Notice the Trompe-l'œil in the foreground. Perhaps play the Don Mclean song in the background.
There does seem to be a special light in that part of Holland https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&...nubhEL_mtGi6eDk9MeL4g&cbp=12,357.21,,0,-11.39
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BordesleyExile
master brummie
Thanks for posting the links, Aidan. Its an interesting experience seeing a panorama, as distinct from trying to imagine it. The Vincent & Theo dvd is expensive, & seems to be getting more so as stocks are exhausted.