As noted by Kristel Smentek, the pagoda was not a mere garden ornament, but a sign of political protest against the court who exiled the duke.

For more on Chanteloup's pagoda see Smentek's "A Prospect of China in Eighteenth-Century France: The Pagoda at Chanteloup" (2019).
#buddhasinthewest

Designed by Louis-Denis Le Camus, the pagoda at Chanteloup is a combination of Chinese and Greco-Roman architectural forms.

The structures is supported by two round classical stories, including sixteen baseless Doric columns on the ground floor. 4/5

A more direct predecessor was a pagoda design illustrated in William Chambers' Designs of Chinese Buildings from 1757.

Chambers' sketch also inspired the famous pagoda at Kew Gardens outside London, which was completed in 1762. 3/5

Commissioned by the Duke of Choiseul, the pagoda stands 44 meters and was a focal point on the grounds, directly visible from the duke's grand salon.

One inspiration for the tower was the Porcelain Pagoda of Nanjing, which had been seen in illustrated European books of China since the 1660s. 2/5

For a brief history of this site, see Michelle Nicholl Lynch's "The Pagoda," The Historical Review of Berks County (1995), viewable here: berkshistory.org/article/the-...

#buddhasinthewest

Once opened to the public, the building interior showcased murals of Asia and articles from Japan, including a large Japanese temple bell Witman purchased and had shipped through the Suez Canal.

While many of the artifacts are now lost, the temple bell still remains an attraction. 4/5

One story claims the pagoda was modeled on a photograph (others say a postcard) of the Nagoya Castle in Japan; another yet claims it was based on an amusement park attraction in Coney Island (see: tinyurl.com/mvah6wx7)

William Abbott Witman decided to construct a "Japanese pagoda" in an attempt to cover the scars of his quarrying operation on Mount Penn.

After failing to obtain a liquor license, the plan to build a full resort was abandoned and the pagoda became the property of the residents of Reading. 2/5

Beginning in England and ending in Washington DC, the Kamakura Daibutsu is the only Buddhist location visited during the lecture.

For more on the importance of travel lecturers in spreading information about Asia, see Jeanette Roan's Envisioning Asia (2010).
#Buddhasinthewest

By 1887 T.H. McAllister was selling a set of 61 slides for a stock presentation entitled, "Around the World in 80 Minutes."

For a total of $30.25, the slides and lecture notes could be purchased by an aspiring lecturer so as to be "well prepared to describe the various scenes intelligently." 4/5

As the Victorian era progressed, there was increasing demand for visual education and moral entertainments, and the illustrated travelogue reflected such interests.

We might find the past splendor of Asia, as seen through its monuments, contrasted with its then-current political strife. 3/5

A typical trans-Pacific cruise of the era would port in Yokohama, a short day trip away from the colossal Kamakura Daibutsu.

An image projected onto a wall or screen would enliven the presentation and provide visual details impossible to elaborate through words alone. 2/5

The thirteen-story Potala was based upon early Tibetan castles and fortified camps, but soon was seen by many as a symbol of Tibet itself.

To read the “The World’s Strangest Capital" (without the panorama insert), see here: tinyurl.com/5fd596mx
#Buddhainthewest

A rare photo by White of Thubten Choekyi Nyima, the 9th Panchen Lama of Tibet. /10

This photo was taken at Khamba Dzong, in Sikkim, where Youghusband planned to negotiate his entrance into Lhasa. The failure of talks with Tibetan officials eventually led to the forceful and bloody advance of Youghusband into Tibet. /9