Lantern Slide with illustration of 'Death and Dr Hornbrook' poem
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Magic Lantern Slide with Engraving Illustrating 'Death and Doctor Hornbook'
- Introduction:
- The inspiration for this early poem was John Wilson, who was appointed schoolmaster in Tarbolton in 1781. A 'hornbook' was a sheet of paper bearing the alphabet, numbers and The Lord's Prayer, mounted on wood and covered by a transparent piece of horn. It was a cheap and reusable teaching aid.
- Image Rights Holder:
- Dumfries & Galloway Museums Service
- Ref:
- 58
- Project:
- 241:Robert Burns - People and Places
- Material:
- Glass
- Dimensions:
- Length: 82 mm, width: 82 mm
- What:
- Lantern Slide with illustration of 'Death and Dr Hornbrook' poem
- Subject:
- Before the advent of the cinema, magic lantern shows were popular social gatherings. The grisly scene depicted on this lantern slide of the grim reaper confronting Dr Hornbook was calculated to cause a reaction from the audience.
- Who:
- Robert Burns (1759-1796) (poem by)
- Tarbolton Masonic Lodge (meeting attended by Burns)
- John Wilson (c1751-1839) (Tarbolton School) (inspiration for poem)
- When:
- 1880 - 1920 (production)
- Where:
- Dumfries Museum, Dumfries & Galloway
- Background:
- Before the advent of the cinema, magic lantern shows were popular social gatherings. The grisly scene depicted on this lantern slide of the grim reaper confronting Dr Hornbook was calculated to cause a reaction from the audience.
- Description:
- Burns wrote this satirical poem after hearing Wilson airing his medical knowledge at a meeting of Tarbolton Masonic Lodge.
