Moving panoramas were essentially small circular, stationary panoramas wound on spindles and then unrolled in a flat plane before an audience to present a series of episodes, usually accompanied by music and a dramatic commentary from a ‘barker’ or lecturer. This is a key for an early one of Trafalgar and though the artist is unidentified it may be connected with Peter Marshall (circa 1762-1826), who is credited with inventing the moving or ‘peristrephic’ exhibition-hall panorama around 1809, though there were theatrical precedents. They became popular throughout the 19th century until overtaken by cinema, the last known performance of one (including scenes of Trafalgar) was by the Poole family in Edinburgh in January 1929.