Edgar Degas Exhibition at NGV
The arts are a strong part of Melbourne culture and Melbourne is no stranger to attracting world renowned artists to showcase their work in the city. The World Loves Melbourne was invited to an exclusive media event at NGV for the Degas exhibition.
In its world premiere, Degas: A New Vision presents the largest display of Edgar Degas’ works to ever come to Australia, and forms the most comprehensive retrospective of his works in decades. Curated by the world’s pre-eminent expert on Edgar Degas, Henri Loyrette, the exhibit will feature more than 200 pieces that showcase Degas’ talent in a new light; not only as a great master of painting, but also as a master of drawing, printmaking, sculpture and photography.
Principal curator Henri Loyrette at the media launch of Degas: A New Vision
Degas’ is best known for his studies of ballerinas including the famous bronze sculpture The little fourteen-year-old dancer, 1879–81, however, he also excelled in painting and these and world-renowned paintings. Some of the exhibited work includes the celebrated ballet paintings The rehearsal, c. 1874, and Finishing the arabesque, 1877, and Degas’ monumental portrait The Bellelli family, 1867.
The little fourteen-year-old dancer 1879–81, cast 1922–37 bronze with cotton skirt and satin ribbon
Family portrait also called The Bellelli family 1867 oil on canvas
Degas pushed the boundaries of artwork during his time, including not only his famous ballet scenes but also arresting portraits, the nude, horse-racing, the social world of Parisian nightlife, and women at work and leisure. The exhibition also explores the great technical, conceptual and expressive freedoms that Degas achieved in his later years and his experiments with a range of mediums including sculpture and photography
Woman in a tub c. 1883 pastel
The extensive collection of his works allows visitors to enjoy the development of Degas’ art from its beginnings. Degas: A New Vision is presented thematically, grouping together the subjects which Degas continually returned to throughout his career.
Degas: A New Vision is on display at NGV International from 24 June – 18 September 2016 as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. Purchase your tickets from ngv.vic.gov.au.