Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot
Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot
Maker
(Artists)
1834-1917
(Foundry)
1834-1917
(Foundry)
Title
Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot
Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot
Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot
Date of Production
c. 1895-1900
Medium
bronze cast
Dimensions
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 19 cm
Depth: 19 cm
Accession Number
S.2010.XX.1
Mode of Acquisition
HM Government (Acceptance in Lieu), allocation, 2010
Credit
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 2010.
Location
On display
Keywords
Label Text
In his sculptures of dancers, Edgar Degas sought to capture the body in motion or in strenuous ballet postures. His models were often young and impoverished ballerinas at the Paris Opéra. A regular model of his, known only as Pauline, described the strain of this pose, which she held repeatedly over many sessions.
One of the very few sculptures of ballet dancers known to have been cast in plaster during Degas’ lifetime, it demonstrates his ability to capture and give dignity to a fleeting moment of effort. The woman depicted here was one of Degas’ regular models, Pauline, who in an interview after his death talked about the great strain of holding this particular pose.
One of the very few sculptures of ballet dancers known to have been cast in plaster during Degas’ lifetime, it demonstrates his ability to capture and give dignity to a fleeting moment of effort. The woman depicted here was one of Degas’ regular models, Pauline, who in an interview after his death talked about the great strain of holding this particular pose.
Provenance
Leicester Galleries, London; purchased by Samuel Courtauld in March 1923; bequeathed to Dame Anne McLaren, 1947; Offered by her estate and accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 2010.
Exhibition History
Masterpieces of Impressionism from The Courtauld Gallery, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 10/09/2019-15/12/2019; Aichi Prefectural Museum, Nagoya, Japan, 03/01/2020-15/03/2020; Kobe City Museum, Kobe, Japan, 28/03/2020-21/06/2020
The Courtauld Collection. A Vision for Impressionism, Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris, 20/02/2019-17/06/2019
Courtauld Connects Regional Programme (Pilot) - Degas' Dancers, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, 11/03/2016-19/06/2016 ...More
Summer Showcase - Unfinished, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2015-20/09/2015
The Courtauld Collects - 20 Years of Acquisitions, Somerset House & London & England, 17/06/2010-19/09/2010
Into the 20th century - New Displays at the Courtauld, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 10/10/2002
Degas Sculpture, Tate Gallery, London, 1948
Degas Sculpture, Leicester Galleries, London, 1923 (February) ...Less
The Courtauld Collection. A Vision for Impressionism, Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris, 20/02/2019-17/06/2019
Courtauld Connects Regional Programme (Pilot) - Degas' Dancers, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, 11/03/2016-19/06/2016 ...More
Summer Showcase - Unfinished, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2015-20/09/2015
The Courtauld Collects - 20 Years of Acquisitions, Somerset House & London & England, 17/06/2010-19/09/2010
Into the 20th century - New Displays at the Courtauld, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 10/10/2002
Degas Sculpture, Tate Gallery, London, 1948
Degas Sculpture, Leicester Galleries, London, 1923 (February) ...Less
Inscriptions
Inscription: inscribed : signed in the metal : : : Degas
Inscription: stamped (?) : : founder's mark : A A Hébrard
Inscription: stamped (?) : : founder's mark : A A Hébrard
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