Before the Race

pastel with charcoal underdrawing on tracing paper mounted on cardboardEdgar Degas (French, 1834–1917)/c. 1887–89

Description

Degas returned to the theme of horse and rider time and again throughout his career. Scholars believe that he executed the first version of this composition of four jockeys on horseback in a charcoal and pastel drawing. Several years later, he traced the composition, reversing its orientation to create the highly finished Cleveland pastel. The palette is intensified, the distance between the second and third jockeys is increased, and the foliage along the horizon has been added to suggest a lush spring day.

Provenance

Henry Lerolle [1848–1929], Paris; (Hector Brame, Paris); (César M. de Hauke, New York); (Jacques Seligmann, New York, sold to Leonard C. Hanna, Jr., Cleveland, OH); Leonard C. Hanna Jr. [1889–1957], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Dimensions

57.5 × 65.4 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

Drawings

Accession No

1958.27

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917)

Drawings • France, 19th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery