‘Panthéon de la Guerre’ at 100: The colossal war painting that time forgot

Jacopo Prisco
Jacopo Prisco, CNN
Updated 9:21 AM EST, Fri February 15, 2019
A section of The "Pantheon de la Guerre" as it looks today on the wall of the Memory Hall at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. The painting, unveiled 100 years ago in Paris, has survived an unlikely journey that has seen it auctioned off, chopped up and forgotten.
A section of The "Pantheon de la Guerre" as it looks today on the wall of the Memory Hall at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. The painting, unveiled 100 years ago in Paris, has survived an unlikely journey that has seen it auctioned off, chopped up and forgotten.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The original "Panthéon de la Guerre" was a cycloramic painting created by two French artists and exhibited in Paris until 1928. This fragment of the original canvas, which was 402 feet in circumference, shows two British air force officers.
The original "Panthéon de la Guerre" was a cycloramic painting created by two French artists and exhibited in Paris until 1928. This fragment of the original canvas, which was 402 feet in circumference, shows two British air force officers.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The painting was purchased in 1928 by American businessmen and transported to New York to be exhibited at Madison Square Garden, where it attracted one million visitors in eight weeks. This fragment shows British Red Cross nurses.
The painting was purchased in 1928 by American businessmen and transported to New York to be exhibited at Madison Square Garden, where it attracted one million visitors in eight weeks. This fragment shows British Red Cross nurses.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
After a US tour that lasted until 1940, the painting was sent back to a storage company in Baltimore which kept it outside in a 55-foot crate, as it was too big to to keep indoors. This fragment shows a British nursing sister.
After a US tour that lasted until 1940, the painting was sent back to a storage company in Baltimore which kept it outside in a 55-foot crate, as it was too big to to keep indoors. This fragment shows a British nursing sister.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The painting remained in outdoor storage for 12 years. Nobody seemed to want it, including the French government. Many fragments of the original 18,000-square-foot canvas are now in the archives of the World War I Museum and Memorial.
The painting remained in outdoor storage for 12 years. Nobody seemed to want it, including the French government. Many fragments of the original 18,000-square-foot canvas are now in the archives of the World War I Museum and Memorial.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The painting, just like the war itself, was perceived very differently in the US. France had suffered about 1.7 million deaths in the conflict, whereas America, which entered the war in 1917, lost around 117,000.
The painting, just like the war itself, was perceived very differently in the US. France had suffered about 1.7 million deaths in the conflict, whereas America, which entered the war in 1917, lost around 117,000.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The painting was donated to the Liberty Memorial of Kansas City, Missouri, and transported there in 1957.
The painting was donated to the Liberty Memorial of Kansas City, Missouri, and transported there in 1957.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Heavy machinery was required to transport and move the massive canvas, which was made of Belgian linen and spanned 18,000 square feet.
Heavy machinery was required to transport and move the massive canvas, which was made of Belgian linen and spanned 18,000 square feet.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Artist Daniel MacMorris was in charge of adapting the panoramic artwork for the walls of the Memory Hall.
Artist Daniel MacMorris was in charge of adapting the panoramic artwork for the walls of the Memory Hall.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
MacMorris and his team proceeded to cut up and rearrange most of the original canvas, creating a new artwork that was far more US-centric.
MacMorris and his team proceeded to cut up and rearrange most of the original canvas, creating a new artwork that was far more US-centric.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The finished work is 70 feet wide and uses just 7 percent of the original "Pantheon de la Guerre."
The finished work is 70 feet wide and uses just 7 percent of the original "Pantheon de la Guerre."
National WWI Museum and Memorial
An early sketch of MacMorris' proposed rearrangement created using photographs.
An early sketch of MacMorris' proposed rearrangement created using photographs.
National WWI Museum and Memorial