Dome

Detail, landing outside of entrance to theater and stairs to Grand Foyer; Purchased from the Salon of 1880 by the French government in 1881. The painting is an evening view of the Grand Staircase of the Paris Opera (Palais Garnier, 1861-1875) by Charles Garnier, with theatergoers in evening dress. The Grand Staircase is white marble with a balustrade of red and green marble, which divides into two divergent flights of stairs that lead to the Grand Foyer. The ceiling above the staircase was painted by Isidore Pils. Source: Musée d'Orsay [website]; http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/ (accessed 8/27/2015)