This dramatic and richly colorful print is from a series depicting elaborate sets designed and executed for operas and ballets performed at the famous Italian theater La Scala. Actors and dancers are shown on the sets, giving a sense of their massive scale and lavish detail. Teatro alla Scala, as it is officially known, opened in Milan in 1778 and still has one of the largest stages in Italy. These prints were engraved after paintings by Alessandro Sanquirico, La Scala’s principal stage designer from 1817 to 1832, who was known for his inventive use of perspective on painted backdrops and innovative special effects involving gas lighting and mechanical devices.

Alessandro Sanquirico was a versatile Italian artist known for his contributions to nineteenth-century theater. Trained in architecture and perspective by Giuseppe Piermarini, he became synonymous with La Scala opera house, where he designed over 300 productions. He was known for his artistic talent but also his practical ability to execute, having occasionally designed sets in a matter of days. Beyond Opera, he was involved with the ballet and designed gardens as well as large-scale festivals. Sanquirico was also known for creating elaborate albums of his designs to showcase his talent.