Young Woman with Ibis
1857–58; reworked 1860–62
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
39 3/8 x 29 1/2 in. (100 x 74.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Stephen Mazoh and Purchase, Bequest of Gioconda King, by exchange, 2008
Accession Number
2008.277
Tags
Art Historical Context
Edgar Degas's *Young Woman with Ibis* (1857–58, reworked 1860–62) captures the artist at a pivotal early stage, during his formative years in Italy. Fresh from his 1856 arrival in Rome, Degas immersed himself in the masterpieces of the Renaissance and classical antiquity, influences evident in this oil-on-canvas portrait. The painting depicts a poised young woman accompanied by an exotic ibis bird, evoking the vibrant cultural milieu of Rome, where ancient Egyptian motifs like the sacred ibis intertwined with European artistic traditions. Rendered in meticulous detail on a generous 39 3/8 x 2...
About the Artist
Edgar Degas · 1834–1917
Edgar Degas (1834-1917) stands as one of the most innovative artists of the nineteenth century, whose distinctive vision transformed how modern life could be depicted on canvas. Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris to a wealthy banking family—his father French, his mother a Louisiana Creole from New Orleans—Degas received a classical education before abandoning law studies in 1855 to pursue ...