Megalethoscope Slide, "St. Mark's Square"
Add to SetSummary
Invented by Carlo Ponti in the early 1860s, a megalethoscope is a device used to view a translucent, multilayered photograph. By opening or closing various panels, a person saw the image change. When lit from behind, pinpricks and paint or colored tissue applied to the back or a secondary layer of the photograph transform the scene to reveal hidden images and create an illusion of nighttime.
Invented by Carlo Ponti in the early 1860s, a megalethoscope is a device used to view a translucent, multilayered photograph. By opening or closing various panels, a person saw the image change. When lit from behind, pinpricks and paint or colored tissue applied to the back or a secondary layer of the photograph transform the scene to reveal hidden images and create an illusion of nighttime.
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Creators
Keywords
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
32.742.113.2.4
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)
Paint (Coating)
Color
Black (Color)
White (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 12.25 in
Width: 17.5 in
Length: 1.5 in
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
