Magic Lantern

Object/Artifact

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Name/Title

Magic Lantern

Entry/Object ID

Q2022.23.4

Description

Magic Lantern projector

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Projector, Lantern Slide

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Projector

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Visual Communication Devices

Nomenclature Class

Visual Communication T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Interpretative Labels

Label

Magic Lantern The precursor to a slide projector, it was dubbed the 'magic lantern'. It was an early type of image projector employing painted pictures or photographs on sheets of glass, a lens and a bright light source. It was used up until the invention of the slide projector. It was invented by Christiaan Huygens, Lord of Zeelhem, FRS, a Dutch mathematician, physicist, astronomer and inventor, who is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time and a major figure in the scientific revolution.