Large Sculpture - Little Dancer of Fourteen Years - Edgar Degas

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

The Large Sculpture – Little Dancer of Fourteen Years captures a pivotal moment in the history of modern art and dance. This Degas Sculpture shows a young ballerina standing tall, her head slightly raised and her arms resting gracefully behind her back, exuding both poise and youthful defiance. The flowing skirt and carefully detailed bodice create a powerful contrast to the smooth lines of her limbs, revealing the artist’s remarkable eye for texture and movement. Whether displayed indoors or as a Garden Statue Tall, the work radiates a quiet elegance that transforms any environment into a space of contemplation and beauty. Every angle of this Ballerina Statue Degas reflects the artist’s desire to honor the discipline and perseverance of a young dancer.

Creation and First Exhibition

Edgar Degas conceived the original wax model of the Little Dancer of Fourteen Years between 1875 and 1880, inspired by the Paris Opera Ballet student Marie van Goethem. Presented at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition in 1881, the figure stunned visitors with its realism, featuring a fabric tutu and human hair to blur the line between life and art. While some critics admired the groundbreaking vision, others were unsettled by its striking honesty. After Degas’s death on 27 September 1917, a series of bronze casts was made using the lost-wax method, ensuring that this Degas Statue Dancer could reach museums and private collections around the world. These authorized bronzes remain celebrated examples of Edgar Degas Artwork, bridging nineteenth-century Impressionism and the enduring tradition of classical sculpture.

Life and Artistic Formation

Born on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas was the son of a banker of Neapolitan heritage and a mother from a distinguished New Orleans family. He received a first-class education at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, briefly studied law at the University of Paris, and soon dedicated himself entirely to art. At the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, he mastered drawing and absorbed Renaissance techniques during extended stays in Italy. These early experiences shaped every Degas Sculpture, combining classical precision with a modern sensitivity to everyday life. His understanding of human anatomy and movement gives the Large Statue Garden version of the Little Dancer its timeless presence.

A Modern Vision of Dance

Unlike many of his Impressionist peers, Edgar Degas focused on the human figure, especially the world of ballet. He spent countless hours sketching rehearsals, observing the strength behind the apparent delicacy of each pose. The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years stands as a testament to the determination of young dancers striving for perfection. The upward tilt of her chin suggests confidence and ambition, qualities that resonate in every Outdoor Garden Statue inspired by this masterpiece. Collectors and art lovers recognize in this Ballerina Statue Degas not only a tribute to youthful discipline but also a celebration of movement held perfectly still.

Technique and Enduring Appeal

The posthumous bronzes were cast using the traditional cire-perdue or lost-wax process, faithfully preserving the intricate textures of Degas’s original wax model. Subtle variations in patina highlight the contrast between the dancer’s smooth skin and the rougher surface of her skirt. Whether showcased as a Modern Garden Statue or within a museum gallery, faithfully executed under expert supervision—retains the vitality of the first wax figure. This fusion of technical mastery and naturalistic observation secures the place of the Degas Sculpture among the most important achievements in nineteenth-century art.

Global Legacy and Present Locations

Today, the Little Dancer of Fourteen Years can be admired in renowned institutions such as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the Tate Gallery in London. In each of these settings, the Degas Statue Dancer continues to captivate viewers, whether encountered as a delicate museum piece or reimagined as a Large Statue Garden or Outdoor Garden Statue for private landscapes. Through this extraordinary creation, Edgar Degas Artwork invites audiences to witness the marriage of youthful aspiration and artistic brilliance, ensuring that the quiet strength of a fourteen-year-old dancer remains a source of inspiration for generations to come.

Height: 97 cm
Width: 46 cm
Depth: 40 cm
Weight: 25 kg
100 % bronze