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Before the Race
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Degas returned to the theme of horse and rider time and again throughout his career. Scholars believe that he executed the first version of this composition of four jockeys on horseback in a charcoal and pastel drawing. Several years later, he traced the composition, reversing its orientation to create the highly finished Cleveland pastel. The palette is intensified, the distance between the second and third jockeys is increased, and the foliage along the horizon has been added to suggest a lush spring day.
| Artist / Maker | Edgar Degas |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1887–89 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 19th century |
| Medium | pastel with charcoal underdrawing on tracing paper mounted on cardboard |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 57.5 x 65.4 cm (22 5/8 x 25 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
Son of a Parisian banker, Edgar Degas enrolled in law school in 1853 following his father's wishes. But he had already shown an interest in art and had also registered to copy at the Louvre. In 1855 he entered the École des Beaux-Arts and became a student of Louis Lamothe (1822-1869), a former pupil of Ingres (q.v.). One year later Degas made the traditional journey to Italy, remaining there for three years. He visited family members in Naples and Florence… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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