- For the album by Styx, see Cyclorama (album).
- For the theatrical backdrop, see Cyclorama (theater)
A cyclorama is a cylindrical painting designed to provide a viewer, standing in the middle of the cylinder, with a 360° view of the painting.
The intended effect is that the viewer would feel as if they were standing in the center of a historic event or famous place — surrounded by the panoramic image.
Cycloramas were first invented by Irishman Robert Barker who wanted to find a way to capture the panoramic view from a hill near Edinburgh, Scotland. He subsequently opened his first cyclorama in Edinburgh in 1787.
Cycloramas were very popular in the late 19th century. The most popular traveled from city to city to provide local entertainment — much like a modern movie. As the viewers stood in the center of the painting, there would often be music and a narrator telling the story of the event depicted. Sometimes dioramas were constructed in the foreground to provide additional realism to the cyclorama.
Many circular and hexagonal shaped buildings were constructed in almost every major US and European city to provide a viewing space for the cycloramas.
Hundreds of cycloramas were produced during their heyday. However, only about thirty survive today.
Some notable cycloramas still in existence today include:
- Atlanta Cyclorama, depicting the Battle of Atlanta during the American Civil War is on display in Atlanta
- Behalt Cyclorama, depicting the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people
- Gettysburg Cyclorama, depicting the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War is displayed at Gettysburg National Military Park
- Cyclorama of Jerusalem, depicting Jesus Christ's Crucifixion is on display in Saint Anne de Beaupre, Quebec, Canada
- Waterloo Cyclorama, depicting the Battle of Waterloo is displayed in Belgium near the city of Waterloo
