Achi news desk-
Discovering Degas: Collecting in the Time of Sir William Burrell is the first major exhibition to be held at the museum since it reopens in 2022, following a £68 million refurbishment.
Staged by Glasgow Life, the city’s leading culture and sport charity, the exhibition will explore the collection and purchase of Degas artworks by Sir William Burrell and his wife Constance, Lady Burrell, who donated one of the most individual gifts to the city. the city of Glasgow.
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Visitors will be able to view every Degas work acquired by Burrell, along with two additional Degas works from the wider Glasgow Museums Collections. This includes the first Degas painting bought by Burrell which is still in the collection, Woman Looking Through Field Glasses, c.1869.
Also on display is Vincent van Gogh’s portrait of Glasgow art dealer Alexander Reid, which gives some historical context to the collecting of Degas’ works by other British collectors at this time. Discovering Degas also explores Britain’s response to Impressionism during the 1880s by displaying Degas’ famous and controversial work L’Absinthe, on loan from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
The exhibition goes on to explore Degas’ fascination with ballet, with colorful works on paper and intricate bronze sculptures, including the striking works The Red Ballet Skirts (c.1900), Grande Arabesque, First Time (c. 1885-90), and loans from the National Galleries of Scotland including the late live painting Before the Performance (c. 1896-1898), as well as studies for The Fourteen Year Old Dancer (c.1878), the only a sculpture exhibited by the artist in his lifetime.
Highlights of the show include studies of racehorses and jockeys, including Jockeys in the Rain (1883-1886) and exceptional loans from The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham of Jockeys Before the Race (1879) and a bronze statue of Trotian Horse , modeled by Degas in the early 1870s, and cast by the Hebrard Foundry in Paris, 1919-21.
Pippa Stephenson-Sit, Curator of European Art at Glasgow Life Museums, who co-curated the exhibition, said: “Discovering Degas has been an absolute pleasure to work on. Degas is one of the best artists in the world of all time and one of the artists who founded the Impressionist group.
“He really liked Britain and he traveled here several times. He cultivated relationships and recognized opportunities to sell his work to British art collectors, who were beginning to develop a taste for modern French art. Sir William had a keen eye for his works of art and collected them for around forty years.
“From modern life in Paris, to horse racing, to ballet scenes, Degas tirelessly tackled a number of fascinating subjects in a way that was entirely his own. His works of art remain extremely popular today, especially his ballet scenes, but we hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity to learn something new about a very talented and interesting artist. This is a unique opportunity to see stunning art, to share the strength of Burrell’s legacy, and to provide new ways for visitors to engage with our incredible collection.
“We are indebted to the Weston Loan Program with Art Fund and the many national and international collections that have lent significant works, enabling The Burrell to stage what promises to be a must-see show the this summer.”
Professor Frances Fowle, Senior Trustee, Sir William Burrell Trust, said: “Degas’ work appealed to collectors such as Sir William Burrell because of his skillful drawing, as well as his interest in portraying figures in motion. He was extremely modern in approach, working in a variety of media, adopting unexpected perspectives and experimenting with bold colors and unusual lighting effects.
“This exhibition showcases the full range of the artist’s output and creates context for Burrell’s outstanding collection. Among those who developed a taste for Degas were other shipbuilders from Glasgow such as William McInnes, and a number of women, among them the sailing enthusiast Elizabeth Workman and the musician Rosalind Maitland.”
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “Discovering Degas is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to enjoy over seventy paintings, sculptures and works on paper by this hugely popular artist, 135 years since his work was first exhibited at Scotland.
“The Weston Loans Program helps museums and galleries create ambitious exhibitions by bringing together important loans, so we are delighted to support this exciting show in Glasgow.”
Discovering Degas: Collecting in the Time of William Burrell opens on Friday May 24 and runs until Monday September 30. Tickets are available here.
