Magic Shadows: The Story of the Origin of Motion PicturesQuigley, Martin
History
Magic Shadows: The Story of the Origin of Motion Pictures
Quigley, Martin
Lantern projection; Motion pictures -- History
However, despite all his knowledge, his title of “Doctor of a Hundred
Arts” and the trouble and fame incidental to the invention of the magic
lantern--his least art, or “the hundredth”--Kircher was not prideful
of his reputation. He concluded his little autobiography by describing
himself as “a poor, humble and unworthy servant of God.” His heart
was buried in a shrine to Mary, the Mother of God, which Kircher had
constructed on the Sabine Hill in Rome.
* * * * *
The art-science of projection and the magic lantern were further
explained through the publication of three other books which included
a description of Kircher’s work and illustrations of his projector
systems; namely, George de Valesius’ volume on the Museum of the
Roman College in 1678, which pointed out that Kircher had developed
magic lanterns using one or more lenses, and that several different
models were on display and in use since the time of their invention;
Johann Stephan Kesler’s book on Kircher’s experiments published in
1680 and another edition in 1686; and finally there was published in
Rome in 1707, a work on the Kircher Museum--the Museum of the Roman
College which had by then been given officially the name of its
collector. Today only a few small objects remain of Kircher’s original
collections. Unfortunately, Kircher’s devices were destroyed shortly
after his death.
The museum of Kircher at the Roman College, the first picture
theatre in the world, was an amazing place. Every conceivable kind
of antiquarian and scientific object was assembled--from Egyptian
inscriptions to stuffed animals, fish, rare stones, curiosities from
the New Worlds and everything pertaining to the pursuits of the “Doctor
of a Hundred Arts.” Any spectator, from one of the eminent Cardinals
to a young Roman nobleman and student at the College who was invited
to a performance, would certainly have been well prepared for an
extraordinary show after looking at the diverse collections at the
museum.
In the 17th century there was no doubt as to the identity of the
inventor of the magic lantern. Before Kircher’s death in 1680 his magic
lantern was widely used in Europe for scientific and entertainment
purposes as well as for the art of deception. The question was raised
by later writers seeking to claim a national of their own country as
the inventor. Kesler wrote in 1680, “In the catoptric art images are
exhibited in dark places through the magic lantern which our author
(Kircher) invented and which, to his undying memory, he communicated to
the world.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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