A History Of The Magic Lantern - Page 5
Further developments
1668 The famous English scientist Robert Hooke published an article in Philosophical Transactions (The Royal Society of London), in which he described a general projection arrangement for transparent and opaque objects. The illumination was either sunlight or a candle. |
Philosophical Transactions 17th August 1668 vol 3 pp741-743. "It produces Effects not only very delightful, but to such as know the contrivance, very wonderful; so that Spectators, not well versed in Opticks, that could see the various Apparitions and Disappearances, the Motions, Changes and Actions, that may this way be presented, would readily believe them super-natural and miraculous….So far our Inventor; who has not contented himself with the bare speculation, but put the same in practice some years since, in the presence of several members of the R. Society, among whom the publisher had the good fortune to see the successful performance of what is here delivered". |
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1685/86 Oculus artificialis telediopricus sive Telescopium Johannes Zahn described a number of projection arrangements using magic lanterns. He referred to the projection of revolving slides, projection-clocks, and suggested tracing book illustrations onto glass. |
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From the 18th Century onwards hundreds of people where involved in the development of the lantern and its accessories. As lenses, mirrors and especially light sources improved projectionists could provide shows to larger audiences outside the home or laboratory. At this stage I am including only the most prominent developments, because of the vast number.
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