Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris
1828–90
Medium
Brush and brown and green wash, gouache, over graphite
Dimensions
Irregular sheet: 12 1/2 x 21 5/16 in. (31.7 x 54.1 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
53.668.65
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Cicéri's *Design for a Stage Set the Opéra, Paris (ca. 1828–90) offers a captivating glimpse into the grandeur of 19th-century theater. As a renowned scenic designer for the Paris Opéra,éri specialized in creating immersive environments that brought operas and ballets to life. This preparatory drawing, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints, likely envisioned a lush, wooded backdrop—evident from its tags emphasizing trees—perfect for evoking dramatic natural scenes in performances at one of Europe's most prestigious venues. Crafted on an irregular sheet measuring 1...
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...