![photobucket](http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu220/blogwork/th_transparent.jpg)
To change the background color under Gnome and thus see the wallpaper, go to System > Preferences > Appearance > Background and select a color under "Colors", just below the list of wallpapers (of course, after you have selected the wallpaper).
Download Transparent Wallpaper.
[source and image credits: Ubuntu Life]