Moving Panoramas in the
Mid-1800s
John J. Egan, American (born Ireland), 1810–1882; Portsmouth Aboriginal Group in a Storm, scene four from the
Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley, c.1850; distemper on cotton muslin; Saint Louis
Art Museum, Eliza McMillan Trust 34:1953
Created by Lauren F. Clark
City and Country School
Summer 2011
Illinois College
NEH Summer Seminar: The Frontier Experience in the American
Mid-West
Moving Panoramas in the Mid-1800s
Description of the Unit: This four week unit will explore life on the Mississippi River in
the 1800s and moving panoramas of the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s. Specifically, students
will explore the artwork of Henry Lewis and John J. Egan. The culminating project will include
creating and sharing of a moving panorama depicting the Mississippi River in the 1800s. The unit
will integrate Social Studies, Art, and Shop.
Week 1: Exploration of life on the Mississippi River in the 1800s
Lesson 1 and 2: Complete the Mighty Mississippi River Lesson. (See attachment)
Objective:
a. Students will identify and label the Mississippi River and the states that border the river.
b. Students will expand their understanding of the role of the river in the development of cities.
c. Students will gain insight into the ways that artists have depicted the river and the natural and
economic activities that surround it.
Lesson 3 and 4: Explore images of the Mississippi River from the “Frontier to Heartland” website.
(http://publications.newberry.org/frontiertoheartland/) Complete independent research exploring life
on the Mississippi River in the 1800s.
Objective:
a. Students will explore images of the Mississippi River in the 1800s and compare them to images of the
river and bordering cities today.
b. Students will independently research a variety of topics (depending on interest) relating to life on the
Mississippi River in the 1800s. (ex: hunting and trapping, Native Americans, trade, transportation,
natural environment, etc.)
Week 2: Exploration of the Mississippi River Panorama Movement
Lesson 1: Read “The Moving Panorama.”
Objective:
a. Students will discuss and answer the following questions in small and full group discussion:
“What is a moving panorama?”
“How were moving panoramas shared?”
“Why were moving panoramas important in the mid- 1800s?”
Lesson 2 and 3: Read “Artist Henry Lewis: The Case of the Falsified Resume”
(http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/57/v57i05p238-243.pdf)
Objectives:
a. Students will record facts about the life and artwork of Henry Lewis.
b. Students will examine and discuss the paintings featured in the article.
Lesson 4 and 5: Read articles discussing the St. Louis Art Museum Restoration
(http://www.thestlouisegotist.com/news/local/2011/june/17/slam-begins-restoring-massivemississippi-river-valley-panorama) and explore powerpoint presentations of John J. Egan and Henry
Lewis.
Objectives:
a. Students will identify the objective of the St. Louis Art Museum restoration of The Panorama of the
Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi River Valley.
b. Students will examine the work of John J. Egan and Henry Lewis and identify features that depict life on the
Mississippi River in the 1800s.
c. Students will continue researching features of life on the Mississippi River in the 1800s. Possible research
topics include:
-Cahokia, Hopewell, or other ancient burial mound locations
-Interactions between Native Americans and European Americans along the Mississippi River
-Trapping and trading along the Mississippi River
-Transportation on the Mississippi River
Week 3 and 4: Creation of a Mississippi River Panorama
Lesson 1, 2, and 3: Working with a partner, students will sketch an image of the Mississippi River
that accurately depicts life on the river in the 1800s.
Objectives:
a. Students will select a relevant and historically accurate image of the Mississippi River to sketch.
Lesson 4, 5, and 6: Transfer sketches onto canvas and paint images.
Objectives:
a. Students will complete their sketches and transfer the sketches onto the canvas to paint.
b. Students will work in Shop to create a device to make a functioning moving panorama.
Lesson 7, 8, and 9: Share panorama with each other and other groups in the school (add music?
other props?)
http://www.artsmia.org/currents-of-change/panorama.cfm
Banvard, John, 1815-1891
Description of Banvard's panorama of the Mississippi river : painted on
three miles of canvas ; exhibiting a view of country 1200 miles in length,
extending from the mouth of the Mississippi river to the city of New Orleans
; being by far the largest picture ever executed by man.
Boston : J. Putnam, Printer, No. 81 Cornhill, 1847.