A Ballet Step in Bronze

Degas’ famous bronze ballerina is the main, but not the only, attraction on display at the large celebratory exhibition at Zagreb’s Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, which will last until 13 May. The reason for the celebration is the gallery’s 30th anniversary.

We are convinced that all aficionados of Edgar Degas’ (1834-1917) opus will jump at the opportunity to see his famous bronze ballerina sculpture in person. It will be on display at an exhibition at the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, which will also feature numerous other works by the artist. The exhibition has been organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the gallery, and it will remain open until 13 May.

Even if it were not for the famous ballerina, the Little Dancer of Fourteen Years , an Edgar Degas exhibition is always an important cultural event, a privilege even, so we believe Zagreb will be a must-visit destination over the next several weeks for many aficionados of the famous painter’s work. The exhibition will feature an array of Degas’ works depicting his favourite motifs; dancers, bathers, nudes, horses and portraits. 

Many of his works have been considered revolutionary, even during his lifetime, because few people could reproduce the poses, motions and facial expressions of dancers quite as faithfully as he could, or realistically imitate seemingly rudimentary actions such as dancing or bathing. 

He achieved that by sketching a lot and frequenting ballet shows or rehearsals, soaking in every pose and every move. Although he is considered a better painter than sculptor, the sculptures which made him additionally famous are proof of his undeniable versatility. Degas applied the same principle of work, research and shaping to horses. In modern-day terms, effects of such naturalistic sculptures could be described as a true 3D delight.

The exhibition features a total of 74 smaller sculptures, several portraits, a bust, and the only sculpture that was exhibited in Degas’ lifetime; the Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.

The bronze casts of Degas’ sculptures, which the Zagreb public will have the opportunity to see at the exhibition, were made only after the master’s death, and they have been borrowed from the Centre for Visual Art M. T. Abraham. Their wax moulds are stored in several museums around the world, mostly in the United States, while only six are stored at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

The exhibition of sculptures by Edgar Degas has been on tour around the globe since 2009. It has thus far been shown in Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Cuba, Spain and Cyprus.