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
The magic lantern with movement of Musschenbroek’s description was
brought back to Paris by Nollet who started its popularization.
The system became wide-spread following the publication of a book,
_Nouvelles Recréations Physiques et Mathématiques_, by Abbé Guyot which
went through several editions in Paris and was translated and published
also in at least two editions in England by W. Hooper, M.D. under the
title, _Rational Recreations in which the Principles of Numbers and
Natural Philosophy are Clearly and Copiously Elucidated, by a Series of
Easy, Entertaining, Interesting Experiments_. Hooper copied even the
plates from the French book of Guyot.
The projections of the magic lantern, it was said, “may be rendered
much more amusing, and at the same time more marvelous, by preparing
figures to which different natural motions may be given, which everyone
may perform according to his own taste; either by movements in the
figures themselves, or by painting the subject on two glasses, and
passing them at the same time through the groove (of the lantern).”
It was noted by Guyot-Hooper that in Musschenbroek’s _Philosophical
Essays_ there are many methods of performing all these movements, “by
some mechanical contrivances that are not difficult to execute.”
An illustration of the Musschenbroek system was given. The subject
sought to portray how, “To represent a tempest by the magic lantern.”
On one of these glasses you are to paint the appearance of the
sea, from the slightest agitation to the most violent commotion.
Observe that these representations are not to be distinct, but
run into each other, that they may form a natural gradation;
remember also, that great part of the effect depends on the
perfection of the painting, and the picturesque appearance of the
design.
On the other glass you are to paint vessels in different forms
and dimensions, and in different directions, together with the
appearance of clouds in the tempestuous parts.
Precise instructions were set down for this first “motion picture”
storm effect:
You are then to pass the glass representing the sea slowly
through the groove, and when you come to that part where the
storm begins, you are to move the glass gently up and down, which
will give it the appearance of a sea that begins to be agitated;
and so increase the motion till you come to the height of the
storm. At the same time you are to introduce the other glass with
the ships, and moving in like manner, you will have a natural
representation of the sea, and of ships in a calm and in a storm.
As you draw the glasses slowly back, the tempest will seem to
subside, the sky grow clear, and the ships glide gently over the
waves.
With Musschenbroek the magic shadows began to have real motion and
the effect on the audience consequently was much greater. Kircher’s
projector was growing up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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