Spanish Dancer Nude Statue Study by Edgar Degas

Spanish Dancer Nude Sculpture Study by Degas. SPANISH DANCE (1882-1885), Spanish Dance is one of the most elegant sculptures in the series and was based on the Paris Opera's ballet company. This enchanted world provided Degas with a lifetime of inspiration. This reproduction is part of the renowned Parastone Mouseion 3D Collection. It has been reproduced with meticulous detail and gracefulness. Made from cold cast bronze, Degas signature appears on the underside of the base, includes a color description card about the museum reproduction in four languages.

EDGAR DEGAS (1834-1917) The course of life of the Parisian painter had few dramatic peaks. Being the eldest son of a well-to-do family the cynical, snobby loner was able to devote his life to the arts. Furthermore, he remained a bachelor because: 'There is love and there is work, and we only have one heart.' His classical education can be recognized in his earlier work, in particular the strict composition and lining inspired by Ingres whom he greatly admired. Degas took a special position within the group of artists led by his friend Monet, who regularly got together in the 'Cafe Gurebois.' His cynicism and sharp tongue however, made his difficult in company and many ideas from Zola, Renoir and Monet did not appeal to him. Although he referred to himself as an 'independent realist', he was very much involved in the impressionistic revolution and the themes and techniques developed the traditional and modern art of painting. In 1874, together with Monet, he organized the first exhibition of the 'independents', which was named the 'the impressionists' by a critic. A realist: 'I know nothing of inspiration, spontaneity and temperament.' He locked himself up inside his studio and used photos as a mnemonic device, whilst others went outside with the tubes of paint which had recently come onto the market. Degas considered that utter nonsense:'Painting is not a sport!', besides: 'I do not have the habit of painting when I am in the countryside.' In his fifties he began to encounter financial problems and on top of that his eyesight began to deteriorate. However, according to Renoir only then 'the real Degas' emerged through his paintings. Degas himself said:'Anyone can be talented when his is twenty-five, what count is to have talent when you are fifty.'

• Size: 7.5"h X 3.5"w X 3"L
• Weight: 3 lbs
• Material: Bonded Bronze
• Made In: China

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Museum Reproductions Information:

History of Art Reproductions: As far as we know, the history of art reproductions takes us back to Imperial Rome where bronze and marble reproductions of Greek masterpieces served as decoration for lavish Roman Villas and Gardens. The art of casting is thousands of years old: Terracotta’s, Bronzes and ancient glass were cast from molds. Closer to our time in the mid 18th century coinciding with the search for new artistic styles which took inspiration from the roots of classic art (neoclassicism) and the discovery of Herculaneum in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748, archaeological reproductions reappeared all over Europe. As a result of French expeditions to Egypt during the nineteenth century, a casting facility was set up next to the Louvre Museum where many important archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt were reproduced. Following the example of the Louvre, other leading European museums began to reproduce some of the masterpieces in their collections thus initiating a trend that continues until today.

Art Reproduction Craftsmanship: For the making of art reproductions, masterpieces have been chosen from the best museums all over the world, The Louvre, The British Museum, The National Museum of Athens, The Egyptian Museum Cairo, The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. We only use materials and techniques that can achieve the best quality in reproducing original works of art to obtain very fine pieces, up to the last detail. Our sculptures are cast in a variety of mediums: Bonded Stone, Polyresins, and Bronze. The finish of each reproduction, is always hand-made and showing craftsmanship and historical sense, is the work of an artisan. It is the task to present to the people of today the legacy of those ancient civilizations with all the beauty and mystery of our ancestors again in front of our eyes and at the reach of our hands. There is several steps that must be taken before a museum reproduction sculpture can be made. Most of our items are original artworks created by our sculptors, carved out of clay, stone, or wood. Once the original is carved, a mold is made, usually out of silicon. Crushed stone in a liquid resin medium is poured into a silicon mold where it solidifies into a hard stone that reproduces all the detail and texture of the original. All the finishes are done by hand. Many finishes include color detailing, a labor intensive process where colors are applied with small brushes by our skilled artisans.