View of the Quirinal
- Original dimensions
- 28 x 21 cm
- Museum
- Fondation Custodia
- Year
- 1857
Scene depicted
In this painting, Edgar Degas invites us to admire the majesty of the Quirinal, residence of the popes, with unparalleled sensitivity. The buildings, bathed in light, harmoniously blend into the Roman landscape, where every detail tells a story. The play of shadows and light on the canvas evokes an atmosphere imbued with serenity, revealing the very essence of the place.
Historical context
Created in Rome in 1857, this painting is part of the Impressionist period, marking the peak of an era where art moves away from academic conventions. The canvas , currently exhibited at the Fondation Custodia, embodies the breath of creative freedom that inspires artists of this time. Its delicate format of 28 x 21 cm gives it an intimate closeness with the viewer.
Place in the artist's career
The painting View of Quirinal represents a turning point in Degas's career, signaling his shift towards a deeper exploration of light and color. At the time, he was grappling with similar themes in other canvases like "The Dance Class" and "The Tub," where he seeks to capture the ephemeral. This canvas thus testifies to a phase of ascent in his creativity.
Anecdote
“The moment when the light caresses the city is the glow I seek,” Degas might have thought while working on this masterpiece . Each brushstroke evokes the emotion of a radiant morning in Rome, filling the air with the scent of the sea, spring flowers, and the excitement of a new day. This painting is much more than a simple canvas ; it is an open window onto a moment suspended in time.
Major exhibitions
On the motif. Painting outdoors 1780-1870