In Paris, 1822, a group of excited guests gathered together in a dark building to witness a cutting-edge immersive theatrical experience, the like of which had never been seen before. French artists Charles-Marie Bouton (1781-1853) and Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787-1851) were the brains behind this astounding new spectacle, known as The Diorama.
Captivated audiences viewed enormous hand-painted linen scenes (the proscenium was 7.3m wide and 6.4m high) conjuring up dramatic vistas such as "The Holyrood Chapel' and 'The Ruins in a Fog'. Multi-layered, cleverly illuminated and enhanced by sound effects and music, the scene would appear to shift and change, depending on the direction and intensity of artfully manipulated lighting. Revolving turntable floors meant that viewers could see more than one scene.
It was an instant hit. A second Diorama theatre opened in 1823 in Regent's Park, London, and similar shows soon appeared in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Dublin. The Victorian passion for all things Gothic and Romantic was in full swing. Thanks to the majesty and magic of these innovative events, the seeds had been sown for a further-reaching trend for making 'dioramas' small-scale replicas of scenes using three-dimensional objects and painted backgrounds.
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Denne historien er fra Special 2024-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Relaxed LIVING
John and Katy Maskell Bell have filled their Victorian home with inherited treasures and antique finds to create a stylish yet warm and welcoming interior.
The HARD SELL
Like many of us post Christmas, Hattie Bell felt in need of a good clear out, but wasn't sure where to turn for items that were too special for the charity shop. Here, she tries and tests several methods - from selling ceramics at a vintage market to auctioning books...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME - Matt Dixon
The owner of TallBoy Interiors tells us about selling his first antique, and how to handle the pressure at French fairs.
48 hours in ASOLO
The medieval hilltop town of Asolo has captivated the imagination of visitors for centuries. Amanda Robinson finds out more about this beautiful- and romantic - Venetian gem...
Pride of place - STAFFORDSHIRE SLIPWARE
Distinguished by its bold, earthy colours and the use of liquid clay applied in decorative patterns, this rustic English pottery has a long and fascinating history, finds Janet Gleeson
ONE EYE ON THE PAST
Artist Sophie Glover explains how she creates her contemporary lover's eyes
Rainbow revelations
When Amy Eld bought her Pimlico home, its plain white walls sparked a desire to drench it in colour, before carefully furnishing it with vintage and antique treasures
Sustainable STYLE
When Nichola and Adam Burns moved from Bristol to France, they took their love of vintage and antique pieces with them, decorating their home with a multitude of stylish finds
Curated collections
Step into Marc Kitchen-Smith's atmospheric Cornish home, where antiques, history and passion intertwine to create a timeless, well-curated sanctuary.
Lisa Coppin
The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her