Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1830 - 1890

Eugène Cicéri made this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite on paper. It captures the grandeur expected of Parisian opera houses, but this is more than just architectural eye-candy. Cicéri was a pivotal figure in 19th-century French stage design, and his work reflects the changing social role of opera. During this time, opera wasn't just entertainment; it was a social event, a place to see and be seen. Set design played a crucial role in creating the spectacle that audiences craved. The architectural details shown here convey a sense of wealth, power and historical continuity. To understand this design fully, we need to consider the Opéra's institutional history and the cultural values it represented. Researching the operas performed and the audiences who attended can tell us more about the meanings conveyed through Cicéri's designs. Art, after all, is always part of a larger social and institutional world.