Palais Garnier is the current name of the opera house that Napoleon III commissioned Charles Garnier to build. Napoleon III was deposed and died before the completion of the opera house.
Completed in December of 1874, the opera house met the requirements of the time as a place to see and be seen. The view of the stage from most of seats in the boxes is limited. However, the opulent Grand Staircase, Grand Foyer, and Auditorium gave Parisians an opportunity to view one another and socialize.
Facade
The Dance - a controversial statue by Jean-Baptise Carpeaux. The style conflicts
with other opera house adornments. We won't even talk about the figures being unclothed
and having a really good time.
Even the ceilings were decorated.
The ceiling of the auditorium, while attractive, is a visual definition of the word,
anachronism. Painted in 1964 by Marc Chagall, it is a 20th century intrusion on
the 19th century opera house.
Boxes for viewing operas and ballets. The boxes are arranged in a horseshoe, better
for viewing other patrons than for viewing the stage.
