The work was started in c. 1880, first made by Degas in a reddish-brown wax in which the girl was sculpted nude. It is a book I would have preferred to read in French as the translation seems at times stilted and awkward. on proper left back corner of base: Degas. Edgar Degas Replica Little Dancer Ballerina 17 Inch Sculpture. 95 $39.99 $39.99. $349.00. Have you heard of it ? You’re intrigued, so you engage. It didn't pay very well either. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The book is serious, philosophical and requires attentive reading. The literary parts of the book wherein the author imagines Degas’s working method with va. (22.226 kg), Edgar Degas The sculpture is two-thirds life size and was originally sculpted in wax, an unusual choice of medium for the time. Unless you are already very interested in Degas (meaning more than the average art appreciator), very interested in that period in Paris, or obsessed with this sculpture ... it could be hard to stay with this one to the end. Design Toscano Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old Medium Statue, Verdigris. (His other deceased sister Thérèse left no descendants.) The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years is a piece of artwork by Edgar Degas a young student of the Paris Opera Ballet dance school named Marie van Goethem.. Role Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. There’s a smattering of errors that one will find annoying if one knows about this period of art (for example, the sculpture was not shown in the Salon of 1881; it was in the Exhibition of the Independents (Impressionist Exhibition) in 1881); missteps as to what kinds of sculptures were shown at exhibitions in this period (the statement “the marbles of Rodin, the bronzes of Carpeaux” makes absolutely no sense); and odd word usage (in which Degas is quoted as saying “you need to espalier yourself.”). When he painted ballerinas, he didn’t see in them either budding talent or charming naivety. To help you sleuth out a new read, we asked the... To see what your friends thought of this book, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen: The True Story Behind Degas's Masterpiece. The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Most of this book is about the sculptures themselves, Degas, dance halls, Paris neighborhoods, and the author's angst at not being able to find out more about the model. One really never thinks about the models used in paintings and sculptures, so finding books written about them is really very fascinating. Receiving this book was a real joy!This short read is a bio on Marie Genevieve van Goethem, who modeled for Degas to earn extra money. The author spent a lot of time lamenting over the lack of information available. I enjoy works by Degas! The artwork features in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian when Larry and Amelia Earhart stumble across the sculpture in the National Gallery of Art. At the sixth impressionist exhibition in the spring of 1881, Edgar Degas presented the only sculpture that he would ever exhibit in public. Her mother worked in a laundry and her older sister was a prostitute. She was a young dancer for the Paris Opera, but did not advance very far in the profession. by Other Press (NY). Edgar Degas 1834-1917. Having read the historical fiction The Painted Girls, when I saw Little Dancer Aged Fourteen on the shelf at my local library, I couldn't resist. The Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, the title given by the artist, has become one of the most beloved works of art, well known through the many bronze casts produced from this unique original statuette, following the artist's death. The story also tells of her family and the poverty they suffered. The exact relationship between Marie van Goethem and Edgar Degas is a matter of debate. This offers basic information about the sculpture, artist and the model, most of which I already knew. 90. This is a moving story of a short-lived relationship between a famous Impressionist painter who had little love for his fellow human beings and a fourteen year old Parisian child born into poverty. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917)Little Dancer Aged Fourteen1880-81bronze with gauze tutu and silk ribbon, on wooden baseOverall: 39 in. Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption The Little Fourteen–Year–Old Dancer is a c. 1881 sculpture by Edgar Degas of a young student of the Paris Opera Ballet dance school named Marie van Goethem. La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans) is a sculpture by Edgar Degas depicting a student of the Paris Opera Ballet dance school, a Belgian named Marie van Goethem. It's not an easy read. There were badly treated and were expected to work long hours holding ballet poses; t. This is a moving story of a short-lived relationship between a famous Impressionist painter who had little love for his fellow human beings and a fourteen year old Parisian child born into poverty.