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Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley

Artist
John J. Egan, American (born Ireland), 1810–1882
Date
c.1850
Material
Distemper on cotton muslin
depicts
United States, North and Central America
made in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Paintings
Collection
American Art
Current Location
Not on view
Dimensions
90 in. x 348 ft. (228.6 x 10607.1 cm)
Credit Line
Eliza McMillan Trust
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
34:1953
NOTES
At first glance, Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley appears to be a single large painting of the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. Yet, concealed behind its frame are 24 additional scenes on a long strip of fabric attached to two vertical rollers that, if completely unrolled, would occupy 2,668 square feet!

Like the Saturday matinees of the early 20th century or 3D movies of today, moving panoramas were a popular form of entertainment during the 19th century. Exaggerated advertisements primed viewers for adventure and spectacle, and narration, music, and special sound and light effects enhanced the experience.

This particular panorama functioned as a scrolling slide show for archaeologist Montroville W. Dickeson, who lectured from town to town about his excavations. It imitates the perspective from a steamboat deck, transporting the audience on an imagined journey down remote waterways.

The Museum's work is the only known Mississippi River panorama to survive. Displays were often damaged by constant travel, and were generally too heavy and cumbersome to preserve once their popularity wanted. This panorama was in a state of disrepair until the Museum conserved it during the summers of 2011 and 2012. The canvas and paint were restored, and an aluminum, motorized version of the structural apparatus and rollers was designed and built by the St. Louis-based Laciny Bros., Inc.
c.1850 -
Dr. Montroville Wilson Dickeson (1810-1882), Philadelphia, PA, commissioned from the artist [1]

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, acquired from Dr. Montroville Wilson Dickeson [2]

c.1899 - 1953
The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA [3]

1953 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania [4]


Notes:
[1] Dickeson, an amateur archaeologist, made hundreds of drawings of burial sites along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers between 1837 and 1844. He commissioned Egan to paint this panorama based on Dickeson's sketches of Mississippi Valley excavations ["The River: Images of the Mississippi." Minneapolis: Walker Art Center, 1976, p. 32-34]. The panorama was first exhibited in Philadelphia in 1851.

[2] Dickeson took his panorama on the road, showing it to the public for twenty-five cents. He eventually presented it, along with his collection of artifacts, to the Academy of Natural Sciences [Silverberg, Robert. "Mound Builders of Ancient America: The Archaeology of a Myth." Greenwich: New York Graphic Society, 1968, p. 98-99].

[3] According to information provided by The University Museum in Philadelphia, the panorama was given to The University Museum around 1899, along with Dickeson's archaeological collection [SLAM document files].

[4] Bill of sale from The University Museum dated April 15, 1953 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, April 2, 1953.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.

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