Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris
1830–90
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
Irregular sheet: 9 9/16 x 4 5/16 in. (24.3 x 10.9 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Henry T. Curtis, 1953
Accession Number
53.668.181
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Cicéri'sDesign for a Stage Set the Opéra, Paris (ca. 1830–90) offers a glimpse into the theatrical splendor of 19th-century France. Cicéri, a prominent French painter and decorator, specialized in scenic designs for the Paris Opéra, one of Europe's grandest stages during the Romantic era. This graphite drawing, likely a preparatory sketch for production, evokes a lush, wooded landscape—perfect for operas like those by Meyerbeer or grand ballets—transporting audiences to fantastical realms through illusionistic scenery. Rendered on an irregular sheet of just 9 9/16 x 4 5/16 inches, the ...
About the Artist
Eugène Cicéri · 1813–1890
Étienne Eugène Cicéri (1813-1890) was a French painter, lithographer, and theatrical designer who became a notable figure in the Barbizon School movement. Born in Paris on January 27, 1813, into an illustrious artistic family, he was the son of renowned scenographer Pierre-Luc-Charles Cicéri and the nephew of painter Eugène Isabey. Cicéri occupies an important position in 19th-century French land...