Cyclorama-Tipton Photo Comparison

[Gettysburg Greg]

Before French artist Paul Philippoteaux began work on his epic Gettysburg Cyclorama, he not only visited the battlefield and spoke with many veterans, he also had Gettysburg photographer William Tipton take a 360 degree series of photographs from the same perspective of the painting. He then used these images for reference while creating the painting. Tipton's photos show the battlefield from the area of the Angle and Copse of Trees as it appeared19 years after the battle. I...n the photo below, I compare Tipton's photo looking west from Hancock Avenue to the matching location in the Cyclorama. The fence line running away from the camera terminates at the Angle near where the Confederate broke through during Pickett's Charge. Seen at top left is the Codori farm where Kemper and Armistead's men crossed the Emmitsburg Road. The tree line in the background is Seminary Ridge, where the great charge began before ending here within the Angle.

 

[pamc153PA]

I am always amazed at how accurately he was able to duplicate the lay of the land. I wouldn't be able to do that, but then again, I'm not an artist!