The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

Four Studies of the Head of a Young Italian Woman

Four Studies of the Head of a Young Italian Woman

1856
(French, 1834–1917)
France, 19th century
graphite
Sheet: 46 x 30.5 cm (18 1/8 x 12 in.)
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2008.388
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

This drawing is one of numerous depictions of Italians in local costume that Degas made in his three years traveling around the country.

Description

This sheet of head studies unites three fundamental characteristics of Degas's art: consummate draftsmanship, captured movement and expression, and an almost obsessive attention to the attitudes of the female figure. Drawn in 1856 during his first trip to Italy, the sheet represents the model in successive positions and expressions of suffering. The name inscribed at the upper right-Rita Cacciala-must be that of the model. Writing models' names and addresses on figure studies was a common practice among artists, providing them with a handy reference of models they might want to contact for future use.
  • 1856-1917
    Estate of Edgar Degas [1834-1917], Paris, by descent to his brother René de Gas
    by 1918-1921
    René de Gas [1845-1921], Paris, by descent to his family
    1921-1976
    Nepveu-Degas collection, Paris
    1976
    (Hotel Drouot, Nepveu-Degas collection sale, Paris, May 6, 1976, no. 13, sold to John Couper?)
    Probably 1976-1977
    John Couper, Paris, sold to Shepherd Gallery, New York
    1977
    (Shepherd Gallery, New York, sold to Muriel Butkin, Shaker Heights, OH)
    1977-2008
    Muriel Butkin [1916-2008], Shaker Heights, OH, by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    2008-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 Collection stamp, not in Lugt, lower left, in black ink.
  • Hôtel Drouot, Paris. Important Ensemble de dessins par Edgar Degas...provenant de l'atelier de l'artiste et d'une partie de la collection Nepveu-Degas. May 6, 1976. Lot 13. Mentioned: no. 13
    Rohowsky, Peter S. French Nineteenth Century Drawings, Pastels, Watercolors: Nov. 1977-Feb. 1978. Exh. Cat. New York: Shepherd Gallery Associates, 1977. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 24
    Villa Medici. Degas e l'Italia: Villa Medici, 1 dicembre 1984-10 febbraio 1985. Exh. Cat. Roma: F. Palombi, 1984. Mentioned: cat. no. 31, p. 102, Reproduced: p. 103
    Loyrette, Henri et al. Degas. Exh. Cat. Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 1988. Mentioned and reproduced: pp. 66-67, no. 8
    Foster, Carter E., Sylvain Bellenger, and Patrick Shaw Cable. French Master Drawings from the Collection of Muriel Butkin. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2001. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 38, pp. 86-87
    Waller, Susan. "Rodin and the modèle italien." sculpture journal 27.1 (2018): 75-88. Mentioned and Reproduced; pp. 78-79, fig 4
    Waller, Susan. "Rodin and the Modele Italien." The Sculpture Journal 27, no. 1 (2018): 75-88. Reproduced: p. 79, fig. 4
  • French Master Drawings from the Collection of Muriel Butkin. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 26-October 28, 2001); Dahesh Museum of Art (February 19-May 18, 2002).
    Degas. Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais, Paris (February 9-May 16, 1988); National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (June 16-August 28, 1988); The Metropolitan Museum of Art (September 27, 1988-January 8, 1989).
    Degas e l'Italia. Villa Medici, Accademia de Francia, Rome. (December 1, 1984-Feburary 10, 1985).
    French Nineteenth Century Drawings, Pastels, and Watercolors. Shepherd Gallery, New York (November 1977-February 1978).
  • {{cite web|title=Four Studies of the Head of a Young Italian Woman|url=false|author=Edgar Degas|year=1856|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2008.388