Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1828 - 1890

This is a design for a stage set by Eugène Cicéri, a renowned French stage designer. The sketch, a watercolor and pencil drawing on paper, depicts a dramatic, cavernous setting, likely for an opera production at the Paris Opéra. The composition is dominated by a massive, dark archway, reminiscent of a rocky mountain pass or a shadowy underworld. The gridded background, common in stage design sketches, helps to visualize the scale and placement of the set within the performance space. This design is an interesting example of the creative process of stage design in the 19th century, revealing the artist's vision for the production.