La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans
Encyclopedia
"Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" ("French: La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans") is a c. 1881 sculpture by Edgar Degas
of a young dance student named Marie van Goethem
. The sculpture was originally made in wax before it was cast in 1922 in bronze. It is built from wax, an unusual choice of material for a sculpture of this time, dressed in a cotton skirt with a hair ribbon, sitting on a wooden base.
The exact relationship between Marie van Goethem and Edgar Degas is a matter of debate. It was usual in 1880 for the 'Petits Rats' of the Opera of Paris to seek protectors from among the wealthy visitors at the back door of the opera.
When the "La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans" was shown in Paris at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition of 1881, it received mixed reviews. The majority of critics were shocked by the piece. They thought it was ugly, that it looked like a medical specimen, in part because Degas exhibited it inside a glass case. Some considered the head and face grotesque and primitive.
His heirs (wife and daughter) made the decision to have 27 of them cast in bronze. The casting went on at the Hébrard foundry in Paris from 1920 until the mid-20th Century, producing the posthumous Degas bronzes that can be seen in many museums. Sixty-nine original sculptures in wax and mixed-media survived the casting process. One copy is currently owned by the creator and owner of Auto Trader
, John Madejski
. He stated that he bought the sculpture by accident. That copy was sold for 13,257,250 £ ($ 19,077,250) at Sotheby's
on February, 3rd 2009. Another casting failed to sell at a November 2011 action at Christies.
To construct the statue, Degas used a skeleton made out of paintbrushes. In the end for a finishing touch he used a wig out of real hair to put on the model. He then covered it with wax. The only part of the original sculpture not covered with wax was a ribbon given to him from the model, Marie van Goethem, and a real tutu. Each museum that shows this figure gives it a different tutu. The original wax model was acquired by Paul Mellon
in 1956. Beginning in 1985, Mr and Mrs Mellon gave the US National
Gallery of Art 49 Degas waxes, 10 bronzes and 2 plasters, the largest group of original Degas sculptures, among them this sculpture.
Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas[p] , born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, was a French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist...
of a young dance student named Marie van Goethem
Marie van Goethem
Marie Genevieve van Goethem was a French ballerina of Belgian descent, and the model for Edgar Degas' statue "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years".-Marie and Degas:...
. The sculpture was originally made in wax before it was cast in 1922 in bronze. It is built from wax, an unusual choice of material for a sculpture of this time, dressed in a cotton skirt with a hair ribbon, sitting on a wooden base.
The exact relationship between Marie van Goethem and Edgar Degas is a matter of debate. It was usual in 1880 for the 'Petits Rats' of the Opera of Paris to seek protectors from among the wealthy visitors at the back door of the opera.
His heirs (wife and daughter) made the decision to have 27 of them cast in bronze. The casting went on at the Hébrard foundry in Paris from 1920 until the mid-20th Century, producing the posthumous Degas bronzes that can be seen in many museums. Sixty-nine original sculptures in wax and mixed-media survived the casting process. One copy is currently owned by the creator and owner of Auto Trader
Auto Trader
Auto Trader is an automotive sales website and classified magazine located in the United Kingdom, owned by Trader Media Group, itself a joint venture between Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners...
, John Madejski
John Madejski
Sir John Robert Madejski OBE DL is an English businessman, with commercial interests, spanning property, broadcast media, hotels, restaurants, publishing and football...
. He stated that he bought the sculpture by accident. That copy was sold for 13,257,250 £ ($ 19,077,250) at Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
on February, 3rd 2009. Another casting failed to sell at a November 2011 action at Christies.
To construct the statue, Degas used a skeleton made out of paintbrushes. In the end for a finishing touch he used a wig out of real hair to put on the model. He then covered it with wax. The only part of the original sculpture not covered with wax was a ribbon given to him from the model, Marie van Goethem, and a real tutu. Each museum that shows this figure gives it a different tutu. The original wax model was acquired by Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
in 1956. Beginning in 1985, Mr and Mrs Mellon gave the US National
Gallery of Art 49 Degas waxes, 10 bronzes and 2 plasters, the largest group of original Degas sculptures, among them this sculpture.
External links
- "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of ArtMetropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
. - "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" in the Tate Collection, London
- "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" in the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection.
- "The Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen" at the Hay Hill Gallery in London.
- History of La Danseuse at the National Gallery of ArtNational Gallery of ArtThe National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
.