Magic Lantern: Study, Safeguard, Uses and Reuses in 19th Century Portugal

Magic Lantern: Study, Safeguard, Uses and Reuses in 19th Century Portugal

Principal Investigator:

Márcia Vilarigues

Co-investigator: Luísa Cymbron

Abstract

With MAGICA, we aim to answer the following questions:

Q1) How do the image repositories for magic lanterns relate to the country’s cultural/theatrical/didactic life in 19th-c.Portugal?

Q2) What was the use, role, and significance of magic lanterns in the new theatre discourses involving light, music, text and scenic illusion of the 19thc. in Portugal?

Q3) To what extent do the magic lantern and phantasmagoria create new forms of theatre and musical-theatre?

Q4) How can one preserve the materiality and at the same time use the image repository of magic lantern glass slides?

Q5) How can we engage the general public with this fascinating part of our heritage (in an increasingly digital world where the performing arts are undergoing significant changes)?
Implementation period
2022-2025
Acronim
MAGICA
Reference
PTDC/ART-PER/1702/2021
Total funding
249.792,17 €
Funding institution
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
Start
01/01/2022
End
30/06/2025
Keywords
Theatre; Lantern; Performance; Heritage
Partnerships

Unidade de Investigação Vidro e Cerâmica para as Artes (VICARTE/FCTUNL/UNL) I Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT (NOVA.ID.FCT) I Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL) I Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) I Universidade de Coimbra (UC) I Universidade de Lisboa (Ulisboa)
More information
MAGICA will result in the valorisation of the Portuguese 19th-c. material and musical-theatre heritage with the rediscovery of forgotten pieces belonging to the partner institutions’ collections; the renewal of the historiographic discourse on theatre with music in Portugal in the 19th century; the reflection on the processes leading to the study of this musical-theatre heritage and its fruition by contemporary audiences; the identification of production materials and techniques of magic lantern glass slides, specific to a time or place throughout their history of use; new information on their degradation mechanisms to develop preservation strategies and ensure access to future generations; the rediscovery of lost materials and techniques of use to conservators, historians, and contemporary artists; an opportunity to restore the magic lantern’s image as one of the first and most exciting projection technologies and tell the story of their social impact due to their widespread use; the knowledge produced will be shared with institutions, collectors, and the general public and be accessible for creative reuse, attracting new audiences. This project aims to develop and implement methodologies and tools that will significantly impact the valorisation and future safeguarding of hand-painted glass slides in collections worldwide.
Team
Catarina Braga | Isabel Novais Gonçalves | Joana Peliz | Luísa Fonte Gomes | Luzia Aurora Rocha | Maria Sempiterno
Team

Alexandra Rodrigues (NOVA FCT – VICARTE) I Anaëlle Soares (PSL University – VICARTE) I Ângela Santos (NOVA FCT – VICARTE) I Armanda Rodrigues (NOVA FCT – NOVA-LINCS) I Carla Machado (NOVA FCT – VICARTE) I Carmen López-San Segundo (USAL) I Catarina Mateus (MUHNAC – ULisboa) I Flavie Delort (PSL University – VICARTE) I F. Javier Frutos-Esteban (USAL) I Gilberto Pereira (UCoimbra) I Matthias Knorr (NOVA FCT – NOVA-LINCS) I Nuno Correia (NOVA FCT – NOVA-LINCS) I Paula Magalhães (CESEM) I Rita Silva (NOVA FCT) I Sofia Pires (NOVA FCT – VICARTE) I Teresa Almeida (FBAUP – VICARTE) I Teresa Girão (UCoimbra – CFE) I Tiago Veiga (NOVA FCT – LAQV-REQUIMTE) I Vanessa Otero (NOVA FCT – LAQV-REQUIMTE)

Research group
Music in the Modern Period
Website: https://www.magica-project.com/home