Gettysburg's Cyclorama Being Taken Apart

wbal ^ | February 17, 2004

[stainlessbanner]

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Two panels of the historic cyclorama painting in Gettysburg have been cut from the giant canvas.

It was clearly a delicate operation as workers freed a section of the painting. It was slowly lowered to the ground. One wrong move and the panel could have torn and literally become pieces of history.

"I don't know if you heard my heart beating, but I was quite nervous and excited at the same time," said Elliot Gruber, with the Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation.

Video

Easy Does It
The 120-year-old painting entitled "The Battle of Gettysburg" depicts the famous Confederate charge by troops under Gen. George Pickett.

Over the years, moisture, rot and fire have taken their toll on the masterpiece. When the scene was first painted in the 1880s, one soldier was pulling on a rope attached to a pulley, but now the rope and the bucket that was attached to the rope have disappeared. The objects may have been painted over by earlier attempts to repair the damage, but now the giant painting, all 27 panels, are about to undergo a major restoration. It may take several years.

"About 15 to 20 percent of the surface is currently covered by repaint. So that will be removed, revealing more of the artist's original work," said David Olin, part of the restoration team.

The restored painting will ultimately be displayed in a new Civil War museum that will replace the current cyclorama building.

Those involved in the restoration process said the painting won't like the way it looks now.

[stainlessbanner]

[stainlessbanner]

For the WBTS history buffs:

On this day in history......In 1861, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Ala.

[camle]

Those involved in the restoration process said the painting won't like the way it looks now.

huh???

[stainlessbanner]

They must be removing the Southern bias.

[aomagrat]

Will they remove all of the Confederate flags?

[Morgan's Raider]

At least they're restoring it. From the heading I was afraid they were destroying it in another effort to revise history.

[PLMerite]

Probably doesn't show enough southern cruelty to slaves...

[dawn53]

The restored painting will ultimately be displayed in a new Civil War museum that will replace the current cyclorama building.

Does this mean they're only going to display part of the painting?

Will they not have the entire "cyclorama" effect in the new building?

This is one of my favorite places to visit while in Atlanta. (We always take our son to see it when visiting there, even though his favorite place in Atlanta is the Coke Museum, LOL)

[dawn53]

My bad, Gettysburg, not Atlanta, Whew, that's takes a load off my mind.

[stainlessbanner]

More coffee, quick! : )

[dawn53]

LOL, yep that's what I need. Been up since 4 when my husband got an emergency call from work. Definitely time for more coffee!!!!

[netmilsmom]

Me too!

[netmilsmom]

>>Those involved in the restoration process said the painting won't like the way it looks now.
huh???<<

I think this was a typo. Replace "like" with "look"

[XRdsRev]

Truly a fantastic painting.

One of my favorite cyclorama stories is about how the painter (Paul Phillipoteaux) signed the work. There was no lower right hand corner for his signature so instead he added a small self portrait of himself dressed as a Union officer watching the battle, into one of the panels.

[camle]

oh. i was wondering. i wouldn't want the painting to not like how it would look after i worked on it...

[stainlessbanner]

Interesting.

[Redcoat LI]

They are going to replace all the muskets with flashlights and radios,like they did in E.T.

[vetvetdoug]

Ever heard of the Shiloh Cyclorama painting? Didn't think so. It was destroyed between 1900-1920.

[netmilsmom]

>>oh. i was wondering. i wouldn't want the painting to not like how it would look after i worked on it<<

LOL!

[Cincinatus]

The Atlanta cyclorama has that fake-looking "3-D" stuff around the base of the painting (old boards, red Georgia clay, shrubs and pine logs, etc.) that detract from the painting. The Gettysburg painting was displayed "straight", with no artificial enhancements. Much more dignified. And better.