AN ENTIRE NEW CONTRI- VANCE OR APPARATUS, WHICH I CALL LA NATURE A COUP D'ŒIL, FOR THE PURPOSE OP DISPLAYING VIEWS OF NATURE AT LARGE BY OIL PAINTING, FRESCO, WATER COLOURS, CRAYONS, OR ANY OTHER MODE OF PAINTING OR DRAWING
Year: 1787

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BARKER, of the City of Edinburgh, Portrait Painter, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
Nineteenth day of June, in the twenty-seventh year of His reign, give and
grant unto me, the said Robert Barker, His especial licence that I, the
said Robert Barker, during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN ENTIRE NEW CONTRI-
VANCE OR APPARATUS, WHICH I CALL LA NATURE A COUP D'ŒIL, FOR THE PURPOSE
OP DISPLAYING VIEWS OF NATURE AT LARGE BY OIL PAINTING, FRESCO, WATER
COLOURS, CRAYONS, OR ANY OTHER MODE OF PAINTING OR DRAWING;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Robert
Barker, under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and how the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar
month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by
the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Barker, do hereby declare that my said Invention of An entire New
Apparatus, which I call La Nature a Coup d'Œil, for the Purpose of Dis-
playing Views of Nature at large, is described in manner following (that is
to say):

page_text: By the Invention called La Nature a Coup d'Œil, is intended, by drawing
and painting and a proper disposition of the whole, to perfect an entire view
of any country or situation as it appears to an observer turning quite round;
to produce which effect the painter or drawer must fix his station, and
delineate correctly and connectedly every object which presents itself to his view
as he turns round, concluding his drawing by a connection with where he
begun. He must observe the lights and shadows how they fall, and perfect
his piece to the best of his abilities. There must be a circular building or
framing erected, on which this drawing or painting may be performed; or
the same may be done on canvas or other materials, and fixed or suspended
on the same building or framing to answer the purpose compleat. It must
be lighted entirely from the top, either by a glazed dome or otherwise, as
the artist may think proper. There must be an inclosure within the said
circular building or framing, which shall prevent an observer going too near
the drawing or painting, so as it may, from all parts it can be viewed, have its
proper effect.
This enclosure may represent a room or platform, or any
other situation, and may be any form thought most convenient, but the
circular form is particularly recommended, of whatever extent this inside
enclosure may be. There must be over it, supported from the bottom or
suspended from the top, a shade or roof, which in all directions should project
so far beyond this inclosure as to prevent an observer seeing above the drawing
or painting, when looking up. And there must be without this inclosure
another interception to represent a wall, paling, or other interception, as the
natural objects represented, or fancy may direct, so as effectually to prevent
the observer from seeing below the bottom of the drawing or painting; by
means of which interception nothing can be seen on the outer circle but the
drawing or painting intended to represent nature. The entrance to the inner
enclosure must be from below, proper building or framing being erected for
that purpose, so that no door or other interruption may disturb the circle on
which the view is to be represented. And there should be below the painting
or drawing proper ventilators fixed, so as to render a current circulation of
air through the whole, and the inner inclosure may be elevated at the will
of an artist, so as to make observers, on whatever situation he may wish
they should imagine themselves, feel as if really on the very spot.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Barker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven.
ROBERT BARKER. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Third day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1787, the aforesaid Robert Barker came before our said Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
5 written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to
the tenor of the Statutes made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
seven hundred and eighty-seven.