The Magic Lantern
Auguste Edouart French
Not on view
In this work, figures gather in the family parlor around a scene emanating from a magic lantern, an early form of image projection that used hand-painted glass slides, a bright light source, and a lens-based device. Included in the group are three children who react with excitement, one of whom is raised up toward the projection by a nurse. At the lower left is a man with a peg leg who plays music from a serinette, a portable instrument consisting of a barrel organ, to accompany the entertainment. Above him, a young man peeks cautiously from behind the door, his features and clothing suggesting that he is a servant of African descent.
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