About the artwork Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre is perhaps best
known for his contribution to the history of photography. He
invented the first photographic process, the daguerréotype in
1839. Daguerre was apprenticed to an architect at the age of
sixteen while also training as a draughtsman. He also worked in
the studio of the stage designer for the Paris Opera, Ignace-
Eugene-Marie Degotti as well as assisting Pierre Prévost in
designing panorama paintings for public entertainment. Daguerre
established his reputation as a stage designer for Parisian
theatres, especially with the development of dioramas. These
were buildings designed by Daguerre for displaying his and
Charles-Marie Bouton's huge paintings. Most of the themes of the
paintings were landscapes, chapel interiors and volcanoes. The
paintings were executed on thin linen. Often real props were
added to enhance spectators' experience. Lighting from the front
and the back of the picture was used to suggest gradual passage
from day to evening light as w