Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris
1828–90
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
Irregular sheet: 12 7/16 x 10 7/16 in. (31.6 x 26.5 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
53.668.41b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Cicéri'sDesign for a Stage Set the Opéra, Paris (ca. 1828–90) offers a captivating glimpse into the theatrical world of 19th France. As a renowned scenic designer for the Paris Opéra,éri specialized in creating immersive backdrops that brought operas and ballets to life. This drawing, executed on an irregular sheet measuring 12 7/16 x 10 7/16 inches, likely sketches a lush, tree-filled landscape—a common motif in Romantic-era stagecraft to evoke nature's grandeur amid dramatic narratives. Rendered in graphite, the medium's precision allowed Cicéri to layer subtle tones and intricate de...
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...