The National Gallery of Art's holdings of works by Edgar Degas (1834–1917) include the world's greatest collection of the artist's lifetime sculptures, which is the focus of a new publication: Edgar Degas Sculpture. The 19th volume in the Gallery's Systematic Catalogue of the permanent collections, this lavishly illustrated book presents the Gallery's unique collection. In 1956, the American collector Paul Mellon purchased the entire group of original Degas sculptures and gave the lion's share to the National Gallery of Art between 1985 and 1999. One of these, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, remains one of the best-loved sculptures of all time. This publication sheds new light on the wax original of that work—the only version Degas himself ever touched—together with many other sculptures in which he transformed his observations and experiments into three-dimensional works of art.

The catalogue links art and science, bringing together the insights of a distinguished art historian of 19th-century painting and sculpture and the specialized knowledge of National Gallery conservators and scientists who have published pioneering technical studies. Including essays on Degas' life and work, his sculptural technique and materials, and the story of the sculptures after his death, it features art-historical and technical discussions of every work in the collection as well as indispensable concordances and bibliography. The richly illustrated text is intended for both art lover and specialist.

This Sunday at 2:00 p.m., the book’s coauthors, Suzanne G. Lindsay, adjunct associate professor in the history of art, University of Pennsylvania, and Gallery conservators Shelley Sturman and Daphne Barbour, discuss their extensive research on the art, history, and techniques of Degas' sculptures in a lecture titled The Sculpture of Edgar Degas at the National Gallery of Art: Launch of a Landmark Publication. Barbour and Sturman will also offer presentations of their conservation research for this systematic catalogue on February 7 and 14, respectively, as part of the Gallery's works in progress series.

To view the full release and order press images, visit: http://www.nga.gov/press/2011/degas.shtm

For more information or to request interviews with the catalogue’s authors, please contact publicist Sara Beth Walsh at (202) 842-6598 or s-walsh@nga.gov.

Deborah Ziska | Chief of Press and Public Information

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