Westcoast Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Title: L'Étoile (The Star)
French School
Period: Circa 1900-1910
Medium: Oil on canvas
Provenance: From a private French collection
Overall size with the frame is 68cm x 52cm x 7 cm and the painting itself measures 55cm x 37cm
The original work by Degas was pastel onto paper but the painting offered, which has been painted with oil onto canvas, is a fine version of the original. It displays tactile tonality and close observation to the original given its transference to a different medium.
In this devoted and largely very accurate early copy of the painting, we see a lone ballerina on the stage, the stage lighting shining brilliantly onto her and her performance. She is en pointe, balancing gracefully on one leg and keeping a majestic pose. The ballerina, as originally depicted by Degas, could indeed could almost be a star, ascending to the heavens with her great feats of physical strength and perfected gracefulness.
The painting does, however, allude to a more sinister side of the ballet. The dark male figure on the left of the painting is likely the one of the dancer’s patrons - men who were granted special access to the space because they made significant donations to the program and at many times paid for a dancer's way of life in return for sexual favours.
The quality of this early work after the original is fine and the unknown artist follows the original study with a certain deftness, capturing the original conceit of light and contrast of tonality with a clear and striking observation and appreciation of the original and its softness of medium.
Condition report:
In overall original condition with a recent light clean and re-varnishing and minor retouching. The canvas is in good tension and the paint surface is stable. Within its original and resurfaced frame, the painting is ready to hang on the wall and enjoy. There are no repairs or patches to the canvas. There is light craquelure (see magnified image of the canvas) commensurate with its estimated antiquity.
Westcoast Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
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Painting L'étoile (The Star), After Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
