Robert Barker's 1796 patent:
Specification of the patent granted to Mr. RoBERT BARKER, of the city of Edinburgh, Portrait-painter; for his invention of an entire new contrivance or apparatus, called by him La Nature à Coup d’ Œil*, for the purpose of difplaying Views of Nature at large, by Oil-painting, Frefco, Water-colours, Crayons, or any other Mode of painting or drawing.
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CONSISTING OF
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS,
SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENT INVENTIONS,
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VOL. IV.
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LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS;
AND SOLD BY T.HEPTINSTALL, NO.131, FLEET-STREET;
G.G. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW; P.ELMSLY,
STRAND; W.RICHARDSON, CORNHILL; J.DEBRETT,
PICCADILLY; AND J. BELL, NO.148, OXFORD-STREET
1796
(165)
XX. Specification of the patent granted to Mr. RoBERT BARKER, of the city of Edinburgh, Portrait-painter; for his invention of an entire new contrivance or apparatus, called by him La Nature à Coup d’ Œil*, for the purpose of difplaying Views of Nature at large, by Oil-painting, Frefco, Water-colours, Crayons, or any other Mode of painting or drawing.
Dated June 19th, 1787.
To all to whom thefe prefents fhall come, &c.
NOW KNOW YE, that by my invention, called La Nature à Coup d’ Œil, is intended, by drawing and painting, and a proper difposition of the whole, to perfect an entire view of any country or fituation, as it appears to an obferver turning quite round; to produce which effect, the painter or drawer muft fix his ftation, and delineate correctly and connectedly every object which prefents itfelf to his view as he turns round, concluding his drawing by a con-
*This invention has been fince called the Panorama.
Patent for difplaying Views of Nature
nection with where he began. He muft obferve the lights and fhadows, how they fall, and perfect his piece to the beft of his abilities. There muft be a circular building or framing erected, on which this drawing or painting may be performed; or the fame may be done on canvas, or other materials, and fixed or fufpended on the fame building or framing, to anfwer the purpofe complete. It muft be lighted entirely from the top, either by a glazed dome or otherwife, as the artift may think proper. There muft be an inclofure within the faid circular building or froming,, which fhall prevent an obferver going too near the drawing or painting, fo as it may, from all parts it can be viewed, have its proper effect. This inclofure may reprefent a room, or platform, or any other fituation, and may be any form thiught moft convenient, but the circular form is particularly recommended. Of whatever extent this infide inclofure may be, there muft be over it (fupported from the bottom, or fufpended from the top,) a fhade or roof; which, in all directions, fhould project fo far beyond this inclofure, as to prevent an obferver feeing above the
by Oil Painting, Frefco, &c.
drawing or painting, when looking up; and there muft be without this inclofure another interception, to reprefent a wall, paling, or other interception, as the natural objects reprefented, or fancy, may direct, fo as effectually to prevent the obferver from feeing below the bottom of the painting or drawing, by means of which interception nothing can be feen on the outer circle, but the drawing or painting intended to reprefent nature. The entrance to the inner inclofure muft be from below a proper building or froming being erected for that purpofe, fo that no door or other interruption may difturb the circle on which the view is to be reprefented. And there fhould be, below the painting or drawing, proper ventilators fixed, fo as to render a current cirulation of air through the whole; and the inner inclofure may be elevated, at the will of an artift, fo as to make obfervers, on whatever fituation he may wifh they fhould imagine themfelves, feel as if really on the very Fpot. In witnefs whereof, &c.
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