The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is sponsoring a special exhibit on The Phantasmagoria now through June 24th.
Phantasmagoria was a form of horror theater that (among other techniques) used one or more optical devices known as magic lanterns to project frightening images such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts onto walls, smoke, or semi-transparent screens. The shows started under the guise of actual séances in Germany in the late 18th century, and gained popularity through most of Europe (including Britain) throughout the 19th century. Learn more about Phantasmagoria at the MFA.
Ref. Phantasmagoria at Wikipedia
