Degas’s ‘Little Dancer’ steps out into the market

January 12th, 2009


Degas’ ‘Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans’ via Guardian

Degas’ Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans, bought for £5m five years ago, is  expected to sell for £12m despite the recent market slowdown. Sir John Madejski, owner of Reading FC and a noted British philanthropist, will be selling Degas’ sculpture at Sotheby’s sale of impressionist art in London next month.

Petite Danseuse, created during 1879 and 1881 is the only sculpture Degas exhibited in his lifetime, and was cast in wax since the artist could not afford to have it done in bronze. The model for the sculpture was Marie van Goethem, a ballerina with the Paris Opera, who was also the inspiration for several of Degas’ paintings.

Madejski puts Degas dancer back in the transfer market at £12m [Guardian]
Degas’s The Little Dancer up for sale [Telegraph]