Diorama - The Modern Diorama

The Modern Diorama

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 or cityscapes, for purposes of education or entertainment.

First use of dioramas in a museum is in Romania by professor Grigore Antipa in 1907.

Miniature dioramas are typically much smaller, and use scale models and landscaping to create historical or fictional scenes. Such a scale-model based diorama is used, for example, in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry to display railroading. This diorama employs a common model railroading scale of 1:87 (HO scale). Hobbyist dioramas often use popular scales such as 1/35 or 1/48.

Sheperd Paine, a prominent hobbyist, popularized the modern miniature diorama beginning in the 1970s.