Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris (recto); Man with Cane (verso)
1840–90
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
sheet: 9 11/16 x 12 13/16 in. (24.6 x 32.5 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
53.668.212
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Cicéri’s graphite drawing offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind 19th-century Parisian theater. Created between 184 and 1890, recto presents a landscape design intended for theéra, Paris—one of Europe’s most prestigious stages. Cicéri, a noted draftsman and set designer, used precise graphite strokes to evoke atmospheric depth and natural scenery, essential elements for transporting audiences during operas and ballets of the period. The sheet’s modest size—just under 10 by 13 inches—highlights the intimate, working nature of such designs, which were often develop...
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...