François Dominique Séraphin facts for kids

François Dominique Séraphin (born 1747, died 1800) was a French entertainer. He became famous for creating and popularizing shadow plays in France. His unique shows were later copied all over Europe.

What are Shadow Plays?

Séraphin was born in Longwy, a town near Luxembourg. Shadow plays are an ancient art form. They use shadows to create figures on a screen. This art began in places like Indonesia and China around the 9th century. European travelers saw these "Chinese shadows." They brought descriptions of these amazing performances back home.

Séraphin's Early Shows

Séraphin started his own version of shadow plays. He first performed them in the early 1770s. His first shows were held in a simple inn near Versailles. Even though he started small, his shows became a huge success. Important people, including the aristocracy, came to watch regularly. Séraphin even performed at the grand Palace of Versailles for royalty.

Moving to Paris

In 1784, Séraphin moved his shows to Paris. He began performing at the new Palais-Royal on September 8, 1784. During this time, Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, visited three of his plays. His performances continued even through the French Revolution. Séraphin passed away in 1800. However, his shows lived on. His nephew continued the theatre until it closed in 1870.

How Séraphin Changed Shadow Plays

Séraphin did not just copy the old "Chinese shadows." He made them better. He invented new ways to control the shadow puppets. Traditionally, hidden performers moved parts of the puppets. Séraphin, however, used clockwork mechanisms. This made the show automatic and very clever.

Popular Shows and Influence

He created many different devices and acts. Some of his famous shows included "Le Chasse aux canards" (The Duck Hunt) and "Le Magicien Rothomago" (Rothomago the Magician). Another popular one was "L'Embarras du ménage" (The Embarrassment of the Household).

One of Séraphin's most loved works was Le Pont Cassé (The Broken Bridge). This play was based on a musical piece. At the peak of their popularity, many of Séraphin's shadow plays were reproduced. This meant children could perform them at home. Scripts and paper characters were made in cities like Épinal, Nancy, and Augsburg. Kids would stick the characters onto cardboard. Then they would cut them out and perform their own versions in small toy theatres.

Séraphin is considered the most important person in developing this art form. His work inspired others, like Philip James de Loutherbourg. Loutherbourg created his own mechanical shows, such as the Eidophusikon. Séraphin's techniques were also combined with new technologies. For example, they were used with magic lanterns to create spooky phantasmagoria shows.

He died in Paris.

Bibliography

• Edmond-Denis De Manne, Charles Ménétrier : Galerie historique des comédiens de la troupe de Nicolet: notices sur certains acteurs et mimes qui se sont fait un nom dans les annales des scènes secondaires depuis 1760 jusqu'à nos jours N. Scheuring, 1869 -

See also

In Spanish: Dominique Séraphin para niños