Studies of Horses (Primary Title)
Edgar Degas, French, 1834 - 1917 (Artist)
During the late 1860s, Degas began to attend popular gatherings at racetracks including Longchamp near Paris, drawn by an artistic interest in modern leisure. He made hundreds of drawings of horses and jockeys, showing an admiration for their discipline. Though Degas is often considered an Impressionist, and even exhibited work in seven of the eight Impressionist exhibitions, he did not paint outside (en plein air), preferring instead the Renaissance tradition of painting in his studio. Thus, he made countless studies in order to learn equine anatomy before translating them into larger compositions.
Unsigned
Degas studio stamp on verso, lower right (Lugt 657)
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
"The French Horse from Géricault to Picasso: Works from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts", The National Sporting Library & Museum, May 6 - July 31, 2016
"The French Horse from Géricault to Picasso: Works from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts", University of Richmond, March 3 - April 25, 2016
"Degas", Musee de L'Orangerie, Paris, 1937; catalog no. 80.
"Der unbekannte Winterthur Privatbesitz 1500-1900", Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland, September-October 1942, catalog no. 340.
"French Paintings from the Collections of Mrs. and Mrs. Paul Mellon and Mrs. Mellon Bruce", National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., March 17-May 1, 1966; catalog no. 226 (illustrated).
"The French Horse from Géricault to Picasso: Works from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts", University of Richmond, March 3 - April 25, 2016
"Degas", Musee de L'Orangerie, Paris, 1937; catalog no. 80.
"Der unbekannte Winterthur Privatbesitz 1500-1900", Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland, September-October 1942, catalog no. 340.
"French Paintings from the Collections of Mrs. and Mrs. Paul Mellon and Mrs. Mellon Bruce", National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., March 17-May 1, 1966; catalog no. 226 (illustrated).
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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