Design for a Theatre

18th century

Not on view

Theater design was a popular subject for architectural competitions during the eighteenth century. As a result, many extant architectural drawings of theaters do not represent realized building projects but rather are exercises or conceptual designs. Despite their conceptual nature, the designs have often still been worked out with a great level of detail. This drawing, for example, is part of a group of three detailing the floorplan, facade, side elevation, and various sections of a building that, as of yet, has not been connected to an existing performance venue in France.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Design for a Theatre
Artist: Anonymous, French, 18th century
Date: 18th century
Medium: Pen and black ink, brush and rose wash over graphite
Dimensions: plate: 11 1/4 x 7 in. (28.6 x 17.8 cm)
Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1970
Object Number: 1970.736.6a
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Anonymous, French, 18th century

In the same medium

Christ Carrying the Cross, Anonymous, French, 18th century French, Red chalk — Christ Carrying the Cross
Anonymous, French, 18th century
Former Attribution Formerly attributed to Jean-Baptiste Greuze
18th century

Germain-Augustin and Rose de Saint-Aubin, Drawn by Their Uncle, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin French, Brush and gray wash, over black chalk and graphite — Germain-Augustin and Rose de Saint-Aubin, Drawn by Their Uncle
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin
1766

Bacchanals, Anonymous, French, 18th century French, Red chalk; squared in black chalk — Bacchanals
Anonymous, French, 18th century
18th Century

Reading the News at the Weavers' Cottage, Adriaen van Ostade Dutch, Pen and brown ink, watercolor, white heightening, over graphite; framing lines in pen and brown ink and gold — Reading the News at the Weavers' Cottage
Adriaen van Ostade
1673

Study of the Costume of Monsieur Clément, Anonymous, French, 18th century French, Black chalk, heightened with white, on blue paper, faded to gray — Study of the Costume of Monsieur Clément
Anonymous, French, 18th century
Former Attribution Formerly attributed to Joseph Marie Vien
1748

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.