The orchestra of the Opera

All this complex crowded the composition of the painting "The Opera orchestra" was started for the Central figure of a bassoonist. This is a friend of Edgar Degas, Desiree dio, to whom the artist gave in the end the finished painting.

Except the main character, in this portrait contemporaries would guess many musicians. And not only musicians. Among the musicians Degas depicted even his colleagues with whom he had become acquainted during the Franco-Prussian war and who is no had no relationship to the Opera.

In all senses in this painting Degas only gets to the ballerinas. He will soon begin to write their set of sketches, pastels, subjects and forms. And while they create a stunning contrast, air and faceless background dressed in all black centered musicians.

During the life of Degas this painting has not been seen – it was just a gift to a friend. And in 1909 its owner was the heiress and sister of Desiree dio, the pianist Marie dio. She decided to part with the painting until 1935, when he left without any money. The French and visiting the musée d'orsay from all over the world connoisseurs Degas, standing in front of "the Orchestra of the Opera" should mentally thank Marie dio, she never sold a painting in a private collection, and traded in the French state to a life annuity.

Although it is not clear which of the options would suit the more Degas the private collection of a passionate lover, or share with everyone. The artist himself was an avid and obsessive collector, and some of their findings, which were hunted for 20 years, never showed to anyone and did not recognize the right of everyone to have access to the legacy of the great artists. His friend and trusted art dealer Ambroise Vollard to the Degas said, "Honestly, Vollard, soon will carry on the great roads of Raphael and Rembrandt just because everyone has the right to enjoy the arts".

Author: Anna Sidelnikova