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Artist: Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas (1834-1917) (16)

Foundry: A A Hébrard Foundry, Paris  (6)

Period: 19th century (9230)

Type: bronze (131)

Keywords
ballet dancers (35) | figures (4114) | women (1424)

Circa 1885 =1890

Artist
Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas (1834-1917)

Foundry
A A Hébrard Foundry, Paris

Bronze casting

Width: 32.6 cm (max); Depth: 22 cm (including base); Height: 56.3 cm (max);

Inscription

Numbered and stamped with the foundry mark, on base, 57/K Cire Perdue A.A. Hébrard //
Inscription, Degas signature stamped on base

Acquisition (source, method, date)
HM Government (Acceptance in Lieu); allocation; 2006
S.2006.LB.1

About this work
From the late 1860s Degas took up sculpture, focusing in particular on ballerinas. Degas modelled his figures in a highly malleable mixture of wax and clay, using ordinary things like matchsticks, wire and wine corks to strengthen them. Here a bit of wire used as an armature is visible poking out of the right hand. Degas never had any of his sculpture cast in bronze. (Permanent collection label)

Copyright: © Accepted by HM Government in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery 2006.