Edgar Degas
1834-1917
Portrait of M. and Mme Paul Valpinçon
1861
13 9/16 x 10 1/6 inches (344 x 256 mm); frame: 21 5/8 x 18 1/4 x 1 3/8 inches
Pencil on paper.
1985.37
Bequest of John S. Thacher.
Notes
Watermark: none.
Paul Valpinçon (1834-1894) was a childhood friend of Degas, and it was Valpinçon's father who introduced the artist to the revered Ingres in 1855. Returning from Italy in 1861, Degas made this double portrait of his old friend and his wife, Marguerite-Claire. It is the earliest of a series of drawings depicting members of the Valpinçon family and their circle. -- Exhibition Label, from "Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso."
Paul Valpinçon (1834-1894) was a childhood friend of Degas, and it was Valpinçon's father who introduced the artist to the revered Ingres in 1855. Returning from Italy in 1861, Degas made this double portrait of his old friend and his wife, Marguerite-Claire. It is the earliest of a series of drawings depicting members of the Valpinçon family and their circle. -- Exhibition Label, from "Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso."
Inscriptions/Markings
Signed, dated, and inscribed at lower left in pencil, "Edgar DeGas / Paris 1861". Originally signed at lower right, now erased. Inscribed by the artist on the verso in pencil, "un passe partout Epais filets 06(?) / papier gris - et un petit filets[sic] / noir apres les filets 06(?) / et ouverture Caret(?) / l'exterieur(?) à 40 - / sur(?) 50 -".
Associated names
Fourchy, Jacques, Mme, (née Hortense Valpinçon), former owner.
Thacher, John S., former owner.
Thacher, John S., former owner.
Bibliography
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Twenty-First Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984-1986. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1989, p. 331-332.
Denison, Cara D. French Master Drawings in the Pierpont Morgan Library. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1993, no. 117, repr.
Denison, Cara D. French Master Drawings in the Pierpont Morgan Library. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1993, no. 117, repr.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
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