Robert Barker was an Irish artist, born in 1739. He worked in Edinburgh in the late 18th century and invented the "panorama" concept - a 360 degree view designed to be placed round the inside of a cylinder and viewed from the centre. The word was taken from the Greek "pan", "all", and "horama", a view (from "horan", to see).

Barker was granted letters patent in June 1787 by George III to display his panoramas. Although these were displayed in London, his first panorama was a view of Edinburgh displayed in Edinburgh in 1788.

In London, Barker panoramas were exhibited at an establishment in Castle Street, off Leicester Square. In 1791, a view of London from the roof of the Albion Mills was displayed. Later on, from 1793, Barker panoramas moved to the first purpose-built panorama building in the world, in Leicester Square, London. This was an immediate success, and when he died in 1806, his son and pupil Henry took over the business in partnership with the artist John Burford.