Huge Little Dancer of Fourteen Years - Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas – Large Bronze “Little Dancer of Fourteen Years” - Signed

This magnificent Large Statue Garden version of the Little Dancer of Fourteen Years brings the quiet elegance of a Parisian ballet studio into the open air. Designed to serve as a Garden Statue Tall, it transforms any courtyard or landscape into a refined outdoor gallery. The young ballerina stands with arms gently clasped behind her back, head slightly tilted upward, as if listening to the rhythm of distant music. Every fold of the skirt and button of the bodice is captured with exceptional precision, creating a lifelike presence that makes this Outdoor Garden Statue an unforgettable focal point. The sculpture speaks of discipline and youthful ambition, a theme central to the enduring appeal of the Ballerina Statue Degas.

Origins of a Masterpiece

The original Little Dancer of Fourteen Years was created between 1875 and 1880 by Edgar Degas, who modeled the work in wax after countless sketches of Paris Opera Ballet students. In 1881, Degas exhibited the wax figure at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition, startling visitors with its realism and the addition of real fabric and a wig. After his death on 27 September 1917, the Hébrard foundry in Paris produced a series of bronze castings, ensuring that this celebrated Degas Sculpture would reach future generations. Each bronze preserves the texture of the artist’s hand and the contemplative posture of the dancer. Collectors and museums value these bronzes as some of the most influential achievements within the entire body of Edgar Degas Artwork.

The Artist’s Life and Training

Born on 19 July 1834 in Paris to Augustin De Gas, a banker of Neapolitan descent, and Marie-Célestine Musson, who hailed from a prominent New Orleans family, Edgar Degas grew up amid music, art, and literature. He studied at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand and briefly enrolled at the University of Paris to study law, but soon followed his passion for art. In 1855 he entered the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, where he learned rigorous classical drawing and absorbed the influence of Renaissance masters during extensive travels in Italy. This academic foundation, combined with his keen observation of modern life, defined every major Degas Sculpture and painting. The combination of discipline and innovation made him one of the most distinctive voices of the Impressionist generation.

Capturing Movement and Character

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Edgar Degas focused on the human figure in poised, transitional moments rather than fleeting landscapes. The Degas Statue Dancer conveys both the vulnerability and strength of a young performer on the threshold of a demanding career. Subtle details—the tilt of the head, the quiet set of the shoulders—create a sense of inner resolve that resonates even in a natural outdoor setting. As a Modern Garden Statue, the piece responds beautifully to changing daylight, with each shadow enhancing the folds of the skirt and the texture of the bronze. Whether placed on a terrace or amid greenery, this Ballerina Statue Degas embodies timeless grace and determination.

Lasting Presence in World Collections

Today, original casts of this celebrated Little Dancer of Fourteen Years can be admired at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Tate in London. Outdoor versions, such as this commanding Garden Statue Tall, allow art lovers to experience the quiet dignity of the Degas Statue Dancer in the open air, where natural light reveals every nuance of form. Collectors seeking a centerpiece for a private estate or cultural garden prize this Outdoor Garden Statue not only for its aesthetic impact but also for its historical significance. As a faithful reproduction of the original Edgar Degas Artwork, the Large Statue Garden edition celebrates the enduring genius of an artist who transformed the study of movement and gave the world one of its most beloved images of a young ballerina.