
Daguerréotype
Last existing diorama painted by Louis Daguerre
Studies on the representation of the photographic image
Last existing diorama painted by Louis Daguerre
Studies on the representation of the photographic image
The canvas represents a Cathedral of Gothic style, which elements seem to repeat the ones already present in the church. A mis abisme, which theatricality is enforced by the red velvet curtains that frame the painting twice, both physically hanging in the abses and in the painting. Effectively, the picture’s perspective directs the visitors’ view to the centre of the scene, thus creating an illusion of profoundity and depth; and upwards, in a contemplative gaze.
The stage becomes even more evident when one realizes there is a switch that activates a system that backlights the scene. The furthest windows of the Cathedral are lit up first, followed up with the second row of openings. Progressively, the picture gets subtly brighter until the lights are again switched off. The lighting animation was to recreate the light of dawn during Easter.

scene #9
Three kneeling chairs
face the golden image
flooding into the eastern transept
the colour-stained light
