Enlarged Lantern Pictures as Guides for Scenic Painting
Scenery for an Amateur Theatrical Performance was Made by Painting Outlines Projected from a Lantern
Scenery for a home-talent theatrical performance was required, and since the services of an expert in that line were not available, an interesting method of obtaining satisfactory sketches for the figures and other objects in the background was devised. Colored lantern slides of scenes suitable for the purpose were selected and projected upon the canvas to be painted, as shown in the illustration. The outlines were drawn around the projected figures, making them as accurate as the original, and far better than would have been possible otherwise by an amateur painter. The colors were applied following the original model, with satisfactory results. By the use of various portions of slides, it was possible to place figures and outdoor effects on the background which was obtained from the first slide used. A factor which must be considered in using this method is that the picture on the canvas will be reversed as to right and left positions compared with the original, if a direct-reflection projector of the type used with post cards is employed.—Thomas R. Milligan, Fort Worth, Texas.