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

This pencil drawing by Eugène Cicéri, a renowned French stage designer, is a design for a stage set at the Opéra in Paris, dating from the mid-19th century. Cicéri's design, known for its dramatic and theatrical impact, depicts a mountainous landscape with jagged peaks and crevices. The use of a grid system, a common practice in stage design, reveals the precision with which Cicéri planned the set's construction. The incomplete state of the drawing further emphasizes the process of creation, providing a glimpse into the artist's working methods. This drawing, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a testament to Cicéri's contribution to the visual spectacle of theatrical productions.