Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris

Art Historical Context

Eugène Cicéri’s graphite drawing offers a fascinating glimpse into the elaborate world of nineteenth-century French theater. Active during the height of Romanticism, Cicéri came from a distinguished family of designers and specialized in creating scenic backdrops for the Paris Opéra, one of Europe’s most prestigious stages. This sheet, produced between 1840 and 1890, served as a working design for a stage set featuring architectural elements, helping directors and performers visualize the spatial drama of an opera or ballet before construction began. Rendered in graphite on an irregular sheet, the drawing emphasizes precise lines and subtle tonal modeling to convey perspective and depth—essential qualities for sets viewed from varying distances in a grand auditorium. Such preparatory works were vital to the Opéra’s lavish productions, where audiences expected richly detailed environments that enhanced the emotional impact of the music and narrative. Today, the piece resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, reminding viewers of the often-unseen artistry that shaped live performance. Cicéri’s designs bridged fine art and spectacle, illustrating how theatrical innovation influenced broader artistic trends of the era.

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...