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The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage 'Round the World

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A portion of the panoramic painting featuring New Bedford, Massachusetts.

The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage 'Round the World is a maritime panoramic painting created by Benjamin Russell and Caleb B. Purrington in 1848.[1] At 1,275 feet in length, it is the longest painting in the United States, longer than the Empire State Building is tall.[2]

History

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An advertisement for a showing of the panorama at Boston's Amory Hall in 1849.

Benjamin Russell was a notable whaling painter of New Bedford, while Caleb Purrington was a more simple sign painter.[3] The panorama was first displayed in 1848.[3] It was displayed on a proscenium stage, mounted on spools and manually cranked to wind the panorama along, typically accompanied by narration, music, and lighting effects.[3]

The Old Dartmouth Historical Society acquired the panorama in 1918.[4]

Description

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The panorama exists in four sections and depicts a whaling voyage around the world in the first half of the 19th century.[5] The Wall Street Journal described it as "surprising in its variety and beauty."[3]

Restoration

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Part of the restoration included spraying the painting with diluted adhesive in order to bind the pigment to the cloth and humidify the canvas.[5]

After its restoration, it was displayed in four sections in a gallery exhibition called "A Spectacle in Motion" at the Kilburn Mill in New Bedford, Massachusetts from July 14 to October 8, 2018.[3] As part of the exhibition, and to protect the fragile canvas from further wear, the New Bedford Whaling Museum created a digital video of the panorama show, now viewable on YouTube.

References

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  1. ^ Writer, Steven FroiasContributing. "Exhibit draws viewers into 'Grand Panorama' in New Bedford". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  2. ^ "The Original: A Spectacle In Motion: The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage 'Round the World - New Bedford Whaling Museum". www.whalingmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e Spiegelman, Willard (2018-08-03). "Sailing the Globe in a Gallery". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  4. ^ "From Worthless to Priceless in Sixty Years: The History of the Panorama at the Old Dartmouth Historical Society". www.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  5. ^ a b "The grand finale: Whaling Museum packs up panorama". southcoasttoday.com. The Standard-Times. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
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