WATERLOO - BARKER, Henry Aston.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Description of the Field of Battle, and Disposition of the Troops Engaged in the Action, Fought on the 18th of June, 1815, near Waterloo; Second edition, related to the stunningly popular panorama of the battle installed at Leicester Square from 1815. The key shows, among other incidents, Wellington on horseback, the Life Guards charging, a burning ammunition wagon, and the Royal Dragoons capturing the eagle of the French 105th Regiment. The pamphlet gives a detailed breakdown of the battle, which Barker assures his readers he researched personally in Paris.Henry Barker (1774-1856) was the son of Robert Barker (1739-1806), the inventor of the panorama. His father designed and built a circular rotunda with walls covered by a continuous painting, fully immersing visitors in the scene. It housed two paintings simultaneously, each on a separate floor, such that one could be replaced while the other was still open for public viewing.The spectacle of Waterloo in the public imagination provided Barker with a perfect opportunity for a panorama, which opened to instant success. "[He] charged 1 shilling admittance, yet within a few short months he grossed over £10,000 (some £500,000 in modern terms)" (Summerville, p. 27). It then went on tour through England, Scotland, and the USA. Visitors could buy keys, descriptive pamphlets, and etchings as souvenirs. The first edition was published in 1816.

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