ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by ERNEST HILLEMACHER 6

The Shadow Box Frame and Shell – A commercial IKEA Ribba frame was adapted for the shadow box. The frame has side depth which creates an overlap for strengthening the shell for this diorama. The shell was constructed from light basswood cut to fit neatly inside the IKEA frame (Fig 13). The back of the frame was attached to the sides to complete the shell. The shell was carefully sanded smooth, stained in dark red brown and varnished in gloss.

Backdrop, Stage and Walls - The backdrop was formed from thin cardboard and then covered with gesso and lightly sanded. The backdrop was glued to the inside of the shadow box shell before it was painted (Fig 14).

The elevated stage was made to slant slightly downwards towards the foreground and the front edge was hidden beneath the lip of the cutout frame. Some minor ground work with small stones and details were added to the elevated stage and it was painted (Fig 15).

Using the cutouts as templates, the monument walls were made from thick cardboard and a cardboard carton tube. The tube was trimmed to size and diameter to fit into the scene. The monument walls were glued at obtuse angles, visually adjusted for slight perspectives. The left edge of the monument was made with plastic tubing. Cardboard pieces were glued to the back of the monument wall structures to provide structural strength which were adjusted to fit snugly against the backdrop. 

A basic test-fitting of the scene was carried out. The elevated stage was placed in the shadow box and held in place by wooden strip runners. The monument walls were glued onto the elevated stage (Fig 16).

Fig 13. Shadowbox shell constructed to fit within the IKEA frame. The backdrop and elevated stage have been constructed. 

Fig 14. The backdrop has been glued to inside the shadow box. The elevated stage and the monument wall structures being test-fitted within the shadow box. The position of the stage is finalized by wooden strip runners. 
 

Fig 15. The stage scattered with small stones and painted with artist oils. 

Fig 16. Construction of the scene within the diorama box. a - basic test-fitting; b - monument walls being constructed to fit into the scene.