Edgar Degas
The Russian Dancer

ArtistFrench, 1834–1917
CultureFrench
Titles
  • The Russian Dancer
  • The Russian Dancers
Date1895
PlaceParis, France
MediumPastel and charcoal on joined paper laid down on board
DimensionsSheet: 26 3/16 × 22 1/8 in. (66.5 × 56.2 cm)
Mat (window): 25 1/2 × 21 1/2 in. (64.8 × 54.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of the Sara Lee Corporation
Object number2000.115
Not on view

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DescriptionThis pastel is from a series Edgar Degas drew of dancers from the Ukraine who performed in Paris in the late 1890s. Degas was fascinated by their strange, rhythmic movements and by their colorful costume.
ProvenanceAtelier Edgar Degas, Paris; [Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, December 11-13, 1918 (Sale 2), lot 122]; Collection Veron, Paris, 1940's; Nathan Cummings (1896-1985), Chicago; Alan H. Cummings (1926-1986), Palm Beach, Florida; Sara Lee Corporation, until donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, on April 10, 2000.
Exhibition History"La Collection Cummings d'Art Ancien du Perou et Peintures Françaises, XIXe-XXe Siècle," Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, March–May 1956; Palazzo Venezia, Rome, 1956.

"Paintings from the Cummings Collection," Minneapolis Institute of Arts, January 14–March 7, 1965.

"Selections from the Nathan Cummings Collection," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., June 28–September 11, 1970; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, July 1–September 7, 1971.

"Major Works from the Collection of Nathan Cummings," Art Institute of Chicago, October 20–December 9, 1973.

"Degas: Beyond Impressionism," National Gallery, London, May 22–August 26, 1996; Art Institute of Chicago, September 28, 1996–January 12, 1997.

"Monet to Moore: The Millenium Gift of the Sara Lee Corporation," Singapore Museum of Art, April 1–May 30, 1999; National Gallery of Australlia, Canberra, June 11–August 22, 1999; North Carolina Museum of Art, Raliegh, September 10–November 7, 1999; Portland Art Museum, Oregon, November 19, 1999–January 25, 2000; The Art Institute of Chicago, March 13–May 28, 2000.

"Degas: A New Vision," National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, June 24–September 18, 2016; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 14, 2016–January 8, 2017.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
There is a label on the verso of the frame: "The Art Institute of Chicago / Edgar Degas / Russian Dancer / Pastel, charcoal on paper / Sara Lee Corporation / Cat 91".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "The Art Institute of Chicago / Exhibition: Degas; Beyond Impressionism / Dates September 25, 1996 - January 5, 1997 / Lender: Sara Lee Corporation / Chicago, IL / Artist: Edgar Degas / Title: Russian Dancer / Medium: pastel and charcoal / Catalog #91".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WCZN5DN / Telephone 071-839-3321 / Exhibition: Degas; Beyond Impressionism / Number: X2412 / Artist: Degas, Hilair-Germain-Edgar / Title Russian Dancer / owner: IL, Chicago, Sara Lee Corp.".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "The Painting by Edgar Degas, "Russian / Dancing Girl" is the property of - / Mr. Alan H. Cummings / 150 Bradley Place / Palm Beach, Florida, 33480".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "Collezione / Cummings / Roma 1956 / Pallazzo / Venezia".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "Musée Des Arts Décoratifs / Palais du Louvre - Pavillon de Marsan / 107, rue de Rivoli, Paris (1st) / Mars - Mai 1956 / Degas-Danseuse Russe."

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "The Minneapolis / Institute / of Art / No. L64.465.10 / Lent by Cummings Collection".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "Musée des Arts décoratifs".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "NAME FC (m) / Receipt and Item no 8339019-02".

There is a label on the verso of the frame: "MFA / Magenta / F.A. Inc / 47-15 5th Street / L.I.C., NY, 11101 / (718) 937-0373 / stock #684 E.S."

Stamped in red with signature, recto, lower left: "Degas"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Russian Dancers
Edgar Degas
c. 1899
Pastel on tracing paper mounted on cardboard
98.278
Danseuse rajustant son chausson (Dancer Adjusting Her Shoe)
Edgar Degas
early 1880s
Charcoal and pastel on wove paper
2012.275
Landscape
Edgar Degas
c. 1892
Pastel on paperboard
91.231
Woman Drying Herself
Edgar Degas
c. 1905
Charcoal and pastel on tracing paper, mounted by the artist on wove paper
56.21
Head of a Woman
Edgar Degas
1884
Pastel on wove paper
84.406
Dancer Putting on Her Stocking
Edgar Degas
c. 1900, cast after 1922
Bronze
80.43
Étude — Homme nu couché (Study of a Reclining Male Nude)
Edgar Degas
1856–1858
Graphite on cream colored paper
89.248.1
Étude — Homme nu couché (Study of a Reclining Male Nude)
Edgar Degas
1856–1858
Graphite on cream colored paper
89.248.2
Roman Landscape (probably facing Monte Lepini, beyond the town of Velletri)
Edgar Degas
1857
Graphite heightened with white on pink wove paper
93.208
Overall recto.
Edwin Howland Blashfield
c. 1893-1925
Charcoal on wove paper, laid down on paper board
2023.186
New York Theatre
Everett Shinn
1929
Graphite, watercolor, and charcoal on wove paper, laid down on paper board
85.206