Art in the Making: Degas presents a fascinating overview of Degas’s working practices and techniques, in the context of his life and artistic milieu. A vivid biographical sketch provides an account of the artist’s family, his travels and his associates,and considers his place in the Impressionist movement. This is followed by an extensive summary of Degas’s working methods and materials, showing how interdependent they were, and drawing on technical studies and documentary evidence. Sections are devoted to drawing, oil painting, pastels,printmaking, sculpture and framing, highlighting Degas’s use of unconventional and mixed media. The question of ’finish’raised by Degas’s habitual reworking of existing pictures is examined, as well as his use of tracing and his repetition of motifs. Finally, the authors discuss Degas’s reputation in Britain, beginning with the sales of his collection and studio in 1918, from which the National Gallery acquired some works.

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was one of the most prolific and technically innovative of artists, and The National Gallery, London, is fortunate in having exceptional holdings of his work, from all stages of his long career and in a variety of media.

Art in the Making: Degas presents a fascinating overview of Degas’s working practices and techniques, in the context of his life and artistic milieu. A vivid biographical sketch provides an account of the artist’s family, his travels and his associates,and considers his place in the Impressionist movement. This is followed by an extensive summary of Degas’s working methods and materials, showing how interdependent they were, and drawing on technical studies and documentary evidence. Sections are devoted to drawing, oil painting, pastels,printmaking, sculpture and framing, highlighting Degas’s use of unconventional and mixed media. The question of ’finish’raised by Degas’s habitual reworking of existing pictures is examined, as well as his use of tracing and his repetition of motifs. Finally, the authors discuss Degas’s reputation in Britain, beginning with the sales of his collection and studio in 1918, from which the National Gallery acquired some works.

The essays are followed by full catalogue entries on fourteen of Degas’s paintings and sketches, eleven of them in the Gallery’s permanent collection.

David Bomford is Senior Restorer, Sarah Herring is Isaiah Berlin Assistant Curator of Nineteenth-Century Paintings,Christopher Riopelle is Curator of Nineteenth-Century Paintings, Jo Kirby is Senior Scientific Officer and Ashok,Roy is Director of Scientific Research, all at the National Gallery, London.

Sponsor’s Foreword

Director’s Foreword

  ESSAYS

Edgar Degas: Illustrious and Unknown

  CHRISTOPHER RIOPELLE

Degas at Work

  DAVID BOMFORD， WITH CONTRIBUTIONS

  FROM JO KIRBY AND ASHOK ROY

Degas and the National Gallery

  SARAH HERRING

  CATALOGUE

1 Promenade beside the Sea

2 Princess Pauline de Metternich

3 Young Spartans Exercising

4 Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando

5 At the Cafe Chateaudun

6 Beach Scene

7 He1ene Rouart in her Father’s Study

8 Woman at a Window

9 Portrait of Elena Carafa

10 Carlo Pellegrini

11 After the Bath, Woman drying herself

12 Russian Dancers

13 Ballet Dancers

14 Combing the Hair (La Coiffure)

Notes

Bibliography

Glossary

Photographic Credits