Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris

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 work showcases Cicéri's masterful use of graphite for rapid, precise shading and linework. These techniques allowed designers to convey depth, light, and atmospheric effects on paper before scaling up to massive canvases or backdrops painted in perspective. Such sketches were essential in the collaborative world of opera production, where architects, machinists, and artists like Cicéri innovated to create immersive environments. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece highlights the artistry behind the curtain. It reminds us how 19th-century stagecraft blended fine art with spectacle, influencing modern theater and film design. A gift from Mrs. Henry T. Curtis in 1953, it preserves Cicéri's legacy of turning sketches into operatic magic.

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...