Design for a Stage Set

Art Historical Context

Eugène Cicéri (181–1890), a French scenic designer of the Romantic era, created this *Design for a Stage Set sometime between 1830 and 1890. As the son of renowned decorator Pierre-Luc Cicéri, he specialized in opulent backdrops for Paris Opéra productions, blending architecture, nature, and fantasy to immerse audiences in dramatic worlds. This preparatory drawing captures the theatrical magic of 19th-century France, when grand spectacles in opera and ballet demanded innovative stagecraft to evoke emotion and grandeur. Rendered in watercolor over graphite, the work showcases Cicéri's masterful technique: graphite underdrawing provides precise outlines, while translucent watercolors add luminous depth and vibrancy, ideal for envisioning lighting effects on stage. Floral motifs, hinted at in the design, reflect Romanticism's love for nature's exuberance, transforming sets into living tableaux that enhanced performances. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Mrs. Henry T. Curtis, 1953), this piece offers a window into the artistry behind the curtain, highlighting how such designs shaped cultural entertainment and preserved ephemeral theater history for posterity.

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...