Diorama by Louis Daguerre

The church of Saint-Gervais–Saint-Protais in Bry-sur-Marne is home to the only remaining diorama by Louis Daguerre, installed here in 1842 after the artist settled in the town.
Before becoming one of the pioneers of early photography, Louis Daguerre was a painter and theatre set designer. He achieved fame in Paris with his invention of the diorama — a spectacular illusionistic painting technique that combined translucent canvases with sophisticated lighting effects to create lifelike, shifting scenes.

The diorama in Bry-sur-Marne extends the church’s interior with the illusion of a vast Gothic choir that appears to transform as the light changes — a mesmerizing blend of art, science, and spirituality that continues to captivate visitors nearly two centuries later.