Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris
1830–90
Medium
Brush and black and gray wash, over graphite
Dimensions
sheet: 8 11/16 x 5 1/4 in. (22.1 x 13.4 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
53.668.255
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Cicéri (1813–1890), a master of Romantic-era stage design, created this intricate *Design for a Stage Set the Opéra, Paris sometime between 1830 and 1890. Working primarily for the prestigious Paris Opéra, Cicéri specialized in evoking grand, atmospheric spectacles that brought operas and ballets to life. This small-scale drawing (8 11/16 x 5 1/4 inches) captures a dramatic scene likely featuring cannons, hinting at a turbulent military or battle motif—common in the era's theatrical productions inspired by history and fantasy. Rendered in brush and black and gray wash over graphite, th...
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...