DISCOVERART

Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas

Auguste Degas

c. 1859
Graphite, with touches of stumping, on buff laid paper with red and brown inclusions
33.9 × 25.9 cm (13.3 × 10.2 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Family portraits dominated Edgar Degas’s output in the 1850s. Before his departure for Italy in 1856 (and again, on his return in 1859), he depicted his brothers and sisters; during his time abroad he turned his attention to his grandfather, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Although Degas lived in the family house for the spring and summer of 1859, this is the only known formal portrait of his father from those early years. Stylistically, the work owes much to the restrained draftsmanship of Ingres, whom Degas met and admired in his student days. The use of shading, however, softens the facial features and lends a surprising sensuality.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas

Yellow Dancers (In the Wings)Yellow Dancers (In the Wings)The Millinery ShopThe Millinery ShopPortrait of Mme Lisle and Mme LoubensPortrait of Mme Lisle and Mme LoubensPortrait after a Costume Ball (Portrait of Madame Dietz-Monnin)Portrait after a Costume Ball (Portrait of Madame Dietz-MonnTwo DancersTwo DancersThe StarThe StarWoman at Her ToiletteWoman at Her ToiletteRetiringRetiring

More like this

Pierre Alexandre TardieuJean Auguste Dominique Ingres — Pierre Alexandre TardieuPortrait of Monsieur MoriceDominique-Vivant Denon — Portrait of Monsieur MoricePortrait Bust of a ManThomas Gainsborough — Portrait Bust of a ManPortrait of a ManGeorge Dance — Portrait of a ManHalf-Length Portrait of ManUnknown — Half-Length Portrait of ManRev. Henry Moncrief WellwoodSir Henry Raeburn — Rev. Henry Moncrief WellwoodJohn DrydenJean-Baptiste de Grateloup — John DrydenJean Joseph GrateloupJean-Baptiste de Grateloup — Jean Joseph GrateloupPortrait of H. W. SchweieckhardtPieter Gaal — Portrait of H. W. SchweieckhardtAlexandre LenoirJacques Louis David — Alexandre LenoirJosiah WedgewoodGeorge Stubbs — Josiah WedgewoodFrederic Sylvester DouglasJean Auguste Dominique Ingres — Frederic Sylvester Douglas