Miniature Panorama: Scenes from a Seminary for Young Ladies

Panoramas were a popular entertainment at the turn of the 19th century. A panorama is a picture or series of pictures unrolled a part at a time to reveal a continuous narrative. Subjects included cities, landscapes, or battles.

This miniature panorama was done by a young girl. This long silk panel with twelve painted vignettes is framed by tree trunks and depicts several scenes. The maker painted what was familiar to her, including farm scenes with animals, girls jumping rope and even daily chores such as churning butter. Her work suggests she attended a school that taught not only reading and sewing, but also geography, painting, and music.