The Life of Christ Magic Lantern Slides
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5B Albemarle Series. Glass Hand-Painted Magic Lantern Slides. Mid to late 1800s.
Notes
Life of Christ magic lantern slides were a popular genre of hand-painted or photographic slides produced during the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for religious education and devotional purposes. These slides depicted key scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, from his birth and ministry to his crucifixion and resurrection. The images were often used in church settings, Sunday schools, and religious lectures to visually illustrate biblical stories and teachings.
The slides were projected using a magic lantern, a precursor to the modern slide projector, onto walls or screens during religious services or educational sessions. The projected images helped convey the narrative of Christ's life to audiences in a visually impactful way, especially at a time when many people were illiterate or had limited access to printed materials.
The Life of Christ slides became especially popular in the late 19th century, when religious groups sought to use the latest technological innovations to spread Christian teachings. These slides would often be accompanied by narration or scripture readings, further enhancing the storytelling experience. The use of these slides was part of a broader effort to create immersive, visual ways to communicate religious stories, much like the illustrated Bible or religious paintings, but through the new medium of projected imagery.
Description
Twelve hand-painted slides with cloth seal around the edges. Each slide is a 3.25 in x 3.25 in square painted in vibrant colors. Vertical hairline fracture through slides one and six. Slide number seven has a chipped corner. Comes in a vintage box which has been repaired with tape along the bottom. General wear to the box. Slides are meant to be used with a magic lantern projector as one lectures along with the images but we have taken the liberty to set our own separate set in a stained glass door here in the store to allow the slides to showcase prominently. This might be an idea if you are interested in a suggestion on how to feature these in your home.
