Edgar Degas
Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Right Foot
Original model 1882-1895; this cast 1919-1921
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Edgar Degas
Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Right Foot
Original model 1882-1895; this cast 1919-1921
Physical Qualities
Bronze, 18 x 8 9/16 x 7 3/8 in. (45.7 x 21.7 x 18.7 cm.)
Credit Line
The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object Number
1950.415
Dancer Looking at the Sole of her Right Foot adopts a pose
Degas returned to on multiple occasions over several
decades. In some ways, his sculpting method was similar
to that of Rodin. Both artists worked from the live model
on an almost daily basis. Each had an affinity for unusual
poses and both were captivated by the figure in motion.
Degas once wrote, “It is the movement of things and
people which amuses and even consoles me.” However,
unlike Rodin, Degas arrested the movement of his figures
to emphasize their natural equilibrium and he systematically
avoided the kind of theatrical poses that Rodin favored.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by bequest, 1949; Etta Cone, Baltimore, by purchase from Galerie Rosengart, Lucerne, 19 Aug. 1937 (per Rosengart archives); Coll. E.R. Buhler, Winterthur, Switzerland.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "A Century of Baltimore Collecting", 6 June-1 September 1941, no. 87.
"From Ingres to Gauguin", Baltimore Museum of Art, November-December 1951, p. 36, no. 114.
"Manet, Degas, Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt", Baltimore Museum of Art, 17 April-3 June 1962, p. 57, no. 79.
Wildenstein Galleries, New York, "Cone Collection from The Baltimore Museum of Art", 29 March-11 May 1974, no. 54.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, "Matisse, Picasso, and Impressionist Masters from the Cone Collection", 2 October 1991-19 January 2002.
The Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, "Degas and the Little Dancer", 7 February 1998-3 May 1998; circulated to Clark Art Institute, 3 May-8 Sep. 1998; The Baltimore Museum of Art, 4 Oct. 1998-3 Jan. 1999.
"Degas and America: The Early Collectors", High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 28 February-27 May 2001; tour to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 6 June 2001-9 Sept. 2001.
Katy Rothkopf, "Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris", circulated to North Carolina Museum of Art, October 10, 2004-January 16, 2005, Naples Museum of Art February 5, 2005-May 1, 2005.
Oliver Shell, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Rodin: Expression and Influence", August 1, 2007-April 6, 2008.
Art Gallery of Alberta, "Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion", January 31-May 30, 2010.
"From Ingres to Gauguin", Baltimore Museum of Art, November-December 1951, p. 36, no. 114.
"Manet, Degas, Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt", Baltimore Museum of Art, 17 April-3 June 1962, p. 57, no. 79.
Wildenstein Galleries, New York, "Cone Collection from The Baltimore Museum of Art", 29 March-11 May 1974, no. 54.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, "Matisse, Picasso, and Impressionist Masters from the Cone Collection", 2 October 1991-19 January 2002.
The Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, "Degas and the Little Dancer", 7 February 1998-3 May 1998; circulated to Clark Art Institute, 3 May-8 Sep. 1998; The Baltimore Museum of Art, 4 Oct. 1998-3 Jan. 1999.
"Degas and America: The Early Collectors", High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 28 February-27 May 2001; tour to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 6 June 2001-9 Sept. 2001.
Katy Rothkopf, "Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris", circulated to North Carolina Museum of Art, October 10, 2004-January 16, 2005, Naples Museum of Art February 5, 2005-May 1, 2005.
Oliver Shell, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Rodin: Expression and Influence", August 1, 2007-April 6, 2008.
Art Gallery of Alberta, "Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion", January 31-May 30, 2010.
R. R. Latlock, 'Degas Sculpture,' "The Burlington Magazine," vol. 42, March 15, 1923, p. 150.
Rene Huyghe and Germain Bazin, "L' Amour de L'Art," (na: na, 1931) 296.
John Rewald, "Degas Works in Sculpture," (New York: Pantheon, 1944) 25, 101, no. 45.
'Cone Bequest,' "BMA News," Oct. 1949, p. 24, no.104.
"Handbook of the Cone Collection," (Baltimore: BMA, 1955) 44, no. 135.
'A Picture Book', Baltimore Museum of Art, 1955, p. 55 ill.
John Rewald, "Degas: Sculpture," (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1956) no. 40.
"Handbook of the Cone Collection, Revised Edition," (Baltimore: BMA, 1967)47 no. 124.
Brenda Richardson, 'Dr. Claribel & Miss Etta', Baltimore: BMA, 1985
John Rewald, "Degas's Complete Sculpture: Catalogue Raisonné," (San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 1990)129, cat. # XLV.
Sara Campbell, 'A Catalogue of Degas' Bronzes,' "Apollo," Aug. 1995, p. 30.
Richard Kendall, "Degas and the Little Dancer," exh. cat. (New Haven and London: Yale university Press, 1998) fig. 57.
Joseph Czestochowski and Anne Pingeot, "Degas Sculptures: Catalogue Raisonné of the Bronzes," (New York: Torch Press and International Arts, 2002) 199.
Inscribed: On base, right rear top: 'Degas'; rear of base: foundry stamp 'Cire/Hebrard/Perdue' and '40/G'
Markings: Rear of base: foundry stamp 'Cire/Hebrard/Perdue' and '40/G'
