A diorama is any of the two display devices mentioned below. It can refer to the 19th century theatre device, which actually moved; or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional model, usually enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum.

Daguerre's Diorama

Plan and Cross-section of Daguerre's Diorama in London.

The Diorama was a popular entertainment in Paris, England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1822 to 1880. An alternative to the also popular "Panorama" (panoramic painting), the Diorama was a theatrical experience viewed by an audience in a highly specialized theater. As many as 350 patrons would file in to view a landscape painting that would change its appearance both subtly and dramatically. Most would stand, though limited seating was provided. The show lasted 10 to 15 minutes, after which time the entire audience (on a massive turntable) would rotate to view a second painting. Later models of the Diorama theater even held a third painting. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Scheveningen village, a small section of the Panorama Mesdag (1880-1881), with fake terrain in the foreground. ...

The size of the proscenium was 24 feet wide by 21 feet high (7.3 meters x 6.4 meters). Each scene was hand-painted on linen, which was made transparent in selected areas. A series of these multi-layered, linen panels were arranged in a deep, truncated tunnel, then illuminated by re-directed sunlight. Depending on the direction and intensity of the skillfully manipulated light, the scene would appear to change. The effect was so subtle and finely rendered that both critics and the public were astounded, believing they were looking at a natural scene. The interior of the Auditorium Building in Chicago built in 1887. ...

The inventor and proprietor of the Diorama was Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851), formerly a decorator, manufacturer of mirrors, painter of Panoramas, and masterly designer and painter of theatrical stage illusions. Daguerre would later co-invent the daguerreotype, the first widely used method of photography Louis Daguerre Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787 - 1851) was the French artist and chemist who is recognized for his invention of the Daguerreotype process of photography. ... An 1837 daguerreotype by Daguerre. ... Photography [fÓ™tÉ‘grÓ™fi:],[foÊŠtÉ‘grÓ™fi:] is the process of recording pictures by means of capturing light on a light-sensitive medium, such as a film or sensor. ...

The Modern Diorama

A diorama in the Museum of Natural history in Milan (Italy).

The current, popular understanding of the term “Diorama” denotes a partially three-dimensional, full-size replica or scale model of a landscape typically showing historical events, nature scenes, cityscapes, etc., for purposes of education or entertainment. Frank M. Chapman, a curator at the American Museum of Natural History during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, helped popularize the style commonly seen today. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... A scale model of the Tower of London. ... Frank Michler Chapman (June 12, 1864 – November 15, 1945) was a US ornithologist. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Museum diorama depicting US infantrymen preparing to counterattack

Modern “Museum Dioramas” may be seen in most major natural history museums. Typically, these displays use a tilted plane to represent what would otherwise be a level surface, a painted background of distant objects, and often employ false perspective, carefully modifying the scale of objects placed on the plane to reinforce the illusion through depth perception of viewing a larger space—representations of objects (of identical real-world size) placed further from the observer are smaller than those closer. Often the distant painted background or sky will be painted upon a continuous curved surface so that the viewer is not distracted by corners, seams, or edges. All of these techniques are means of presenting a realistic view of a large scene in a compact space. A photograph or single-eye view of such a diorama can be especially convincing since in this case there is no distraction by the binocular perception of depth. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 157 KB)diorama in historical museum in Diekrich, Luxembourg, depicting US infantry preparing to counterattack crossing the river Sure. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 157 KB)diorama in historical museum in Diekrich, Luxembourg, depicting US infantry preparing to counterattack crossing the river Sure. ... For other uses, see illusion (disambiguation). ... Depth perception is the visual ability to perceive the world in three dimensions. ...

Miniature dioramas are used to represent scenes from historic events (e.g., tin soldiers arranged in a display depicting a famous battle). A typical example of this type are the dioramas to be seen at the Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum (Norwegian Resistance Museum) in Oslo, Norway. A rare, complete set of Nazi S.A. tin soldiers, from the 1940s. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 224 454 km² 426 km² 0. ...

Room boxes and other doll housing can also be considered dioramas. So too, the landscapes built around model railways, although they often have to compromise scale accuracy for better operating characteristics. A room box is a display box used for three-dimensional miniature scale environments. ... Living Room of Dollhouse. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

One of the largest Dioramas ever created was a model of the entire state of California built for the San Francisco World Fair and that for a long time was installed in San Francisco's Ferry Building.

See also

• Nativity scene
• Cosmorama
• Cyclorama
• Myriorama
• Panorama
• Panomic painting

A traditional nativity scene from Naples, Italy A nativity scene, also called a crib or crèche (meaning crib or manger in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. ... Cosmorama is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. ... A cyclorama is a cylindrical painting designed to provide a viewer, standing in the middle of the cylinder, with a 360° view of the painting. ... Myriorama cards - 19th century - these came from a set of 18 Myriorama originally meant a set of illustrated cards which 19th century children could arrange and re-arrange, forming different pictures. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Panoramic photography. ...

References in Popular Culture

• The Simpsons has occasionally used the diorama as a plot device, most noticeably in the episode, "Lisa's Rival"

Simpsons redirects here. ... Lisas Rival is the second episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ...

References

• R. D. Wood's Essays on the early history of photography and the Diorama

L.J.M. Daguerre, The History of The Diorama and the Daguerreotype by Helmut and Alison Gernsheim,1968, Dover Publications

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Category:Dioramas