Paul Philidor
Encyclopedia
Paul Philidor also known as Paul de Philipsthal, was a German performer of entertainment séance
s in the style that would soon become known as phantasmagoria
. Philidor's origins are unclear, as is his exact identity; it is believed that he took his name from François-André Danican Philidor
.
had first used magic lantern
s to add a visual dimension to his performances, projecting ghost
ly images into smoke. Philidor used many of Schröpfer's techniques along with conjuring tricks copied from Joseph Pinetti
and, making use of the recently invented Argand lamp
, produced a show that could more easily be seen by large audiences. His first public performances were in Berlin
in 1789 but were soon disbanded when Freiherr von der Reck, director of one of the city's theatres, attempted to expose his fraudulent claims of supernatural power. Philidor moved on to Vienna
in 1791 where his show would run for a year. In respect to the man whose idea he had expanded, Philidor called his show "Schröpferesque Geisterscheinings" (Schröpfer-style ghost appearances).
, Philidor moved to Paris
where the audience were particularly open to the idea of seeing their dead heroes. However, with tensions running high and Philidor's shows increasingly making political references it was not long until he found himself in trouble with the authorities. Philidor made references to well-known revolutionaries of the day, making Maximilien Robespierre
, Georges Danton
, and Jean-Paul Marat
appear as if they were the devil. He was arrested for allegedly depicting the rise of Louis XVI to heaven, though he claimed that this was simply a mistake by one of his assistants.
under the assumed name of Paul de Philipsthal, continuing his shows. Just as Philidor had been inspired by Schröpfer, his own methods were observed here by Belgian Étienne-Gaspard Robert
, who combined what he had seen with his own skills in optics
and painting
. By refining the performance and the technologies Robert created the first true phantasmagoria show.
In October 1801 Philidor set up a permanent exhibition at the Lyceum Theatre, London. By this time Philidor's shows had moved away from theatrics and into scientific demonstrations, no longer attempting to fool the audience members into believing that the apparitions were real. In an opening speech, Philidor would make it clear that these phantasmagoric images are purely for entertainment. This was in keeping with the growth of the fascination with science at the time and the more widespread availability of magic lanterns. Philidor also displayed and demonstrated a variety of automata
and mechanical devices.
After a short break Philidor reopened his show with the wax museum of Marie Tussaud
alongside. Tussaud had left France to join up with Philidor, who agreed to allow her to associate with his fame for half of her profits. She would go on to travel Great Britain
and Ireland
until settling down for a permanent exhibition on Baker Street
in 1835.
Séance
A séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...
s in the style that would soon become known as phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria can refer to:* Phantasmagoria, a type of show using an optical device to display moving images* Phantasmagoria, a video game* Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh, a video game sequel to Phantasmagoria...
. Philidor's origins are unclear, as is his exact identity; it is believed that he took his name from François-André Danican Philidor
François-André Danican Philidor
François-André Danican Philidor , often referred to as André Danican Philidor during his lifetime, was a French composer and chess player. He contributed to the early development of the opéra comique...
.
Biography
The idea of séances was in its infancy in the 18th Century, particularly in a public setting. Johann Georg SchröpferJohann Georg Schröpfer
Johann Georg Schröpfer was a German illusionist, freemason, and occultist. He was a pioneer of entertainment séances, being one of the first people to use a magic lantern to project the appearance of ghosts...
had first used magic lantern
Magic lantern
The magic lantern or Laterna Magica is an early type of image projector developed in the 17th century.-Operation:The magic lantern has a concave mirror in front of a light source that gathers light and projects it through a slide with an image scanned onto it. The light rays cross an aperture , and...
s to add a visual dimension to his performances, projecting ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
ly images into smoke. Philidor used many of Schröpfer's techniques along with conjuring tricks copied from Joseph Pinetti
Joseph Pinetti
Giovanni Giuseppe Pinetti, was known in France as Chevalier Joseph Pinetti . He was born in Orbetello and died in Russia. He was known as The Professor of Natural Magic and was a complex flamboyant personage...
and, making use of the recently invented Argand lamp
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
, produced a show that could more easily be seen by large audiences. His first public performances were in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1789 but were soon disbanded when Freiherr von der Reck, director of one of the city's theatres, attempted to expose his fraudulent claims of supernatural power. Philidor moved on to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1791 where his show would run for a year. In respect to the man whose idea he had expanded, Philidor called his show "Schröpferesque Geisterscheinings" (Schröpfer-style ghost appearances).
Shows in Paris
In January 1793, several years into the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, Philidor moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where the audience were particularly open to the idea of seeing their dead heroes. However, with tensions running high and Philidor's shows increasingly making political references it was not long until he found himself in trouble with the authorities. Philidor made references to well-known revolutionaries of the day, making Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre is one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He largely dominated the Committee of Public Safety and was instrumental in the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which ended with his...
, Georges Danton
Georges Danton
Georges Jacques Danton was leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution and the first President of the Committee of Public Safety. Danton's role in the onset of the Revolution has been disputed; many historians describe him as "the chief force in theoverthrow of the monarchy and the...
, and Jean-Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat , born in the Principality of Neuchâtel, was a physician, political theorist, and scientist best known for his career in France as a radical journalist and politician during the French Revolution...
appear as if they were the devil. He was arrested for allegedly depicting the rise of Louis XVI to heaven, though he claimed that this was simply a mistake by one of his assistants.
Shows in London
Philidor moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
under the assumed name of Paul de Philipsthal, continuing his shows. Just as Philidor had been inspired by Schröpfer, his own methods were observed here by Belgian Étienne-Gaspard Robert
Étienne-Gaspard Robert
Étienne-Gaspard Robert , often known by the stage name of "Robertson", was a prominent Belgian stage magician and influential developer of phantasmagoria. He was described by Charles Dickens as "an honourable and well-educated showman"...
, who combined what he had seen with his own skills in optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. By refining the performance and the technologies Robert created the first true phantasmagoria show.
In October 1801 Philidor set up a permanent exhibition at the Lyceum Theatre, London. By this time Philidor's shows had moved away from theatrics and into scientific demonstrations, no longer attempting to fool the audience members into believing that the apparitions were real. In an opening speech, Philidor would make it clear that these phantasmagoric images are purely for entertainment. This was in keeping with the growth of the fascination with science at the time and the more widespread availability of magic lanterns. Philidor also displayed and demonstrated a variety of automata
Automaton
An automaton is a self-operating machine. The word is sometimes used to describe a robot, more specifically an autonomous robot. An alternative spelling, now obsolete, is automation.-Etymology:...
and mechanical devices.
After a short break Philidor reopened his show with the wax museum of Marie Tussaud
Marie Tussaud
Anna Maria Tussaud was an artist known for her wax sculptures and Madame Tussaud's, the wax museum she founded in London.- Biography :...
alongside. Tussaud had left France to join up with Philidor, who agreed to allow her to associate with his fame for half of her profits. She would go on to travel Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
until settling down for a permanent exhibition on Baker Street
Baker Street
Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid the street out in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who lived at a fictional 221B...
in 1835.