Painted in 1855 when Edgar Degas was just twenty-one years old, Portrait of René De Gas is one of his most touching and accomplished early family studies. Depicting his younger brother René (1845–1926) seated comfortably in an armchair with a soft, contemplative gaze, Degas created a remarkably mature psychological portrait. During this period, Degas was studying under Louis Lamothe and absorbed in the classical precision of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Italian Renaissance masters. The refined linear drawing, smooth glazing techniques, and rich dark background emphasize the quiet dignity and earnest humanity of the young sitter. Housed in the Smith College Museum of Art, this canvas marks an essential stepping stone toward Degas’s monumental family group compositions.
Studio Craftsmanship & Quality Highlights
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100% Hand-Painted Execution: Meticulously hand-crafted layer by layer by senior specialist artists, faithfully recreating Degas’s smooth early oil glazes, subtle skin tones, and deep chiaroscuro background tones.
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Archival-Grade Materials: Rendered on heavy-weight, high-density pure linen canvas using premium oil pigments to ensure lifetime color permanence, maximum UV resistance, and long-term structural stability.
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Classical Precision & Psychological Depth: Accurately renders the subtle facial features, crisp white shirt collar accents, and calm, introspective atmosphere of the original canvas.
Recommended Space Placement
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Residential: Private executive libraries, formal studies, quiet reading parlors, hallway corridors, or gentleman’s dressing quarters.
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Commercial: Academic art institutions, law firm partner offices, luxury boutique hotel libraries, and classical fine art galleries.
5. Product Specifications
| Feature | Details |
| Title | Portrait of René De Gas |
| Original Artist | Edgar Degas |
| Original Execution Date | $1855$ (Early Academic / Family Portraiture Era) |
| Art Style & Genre | French Realism / Academic Classical (Male Portrait / Family Scene) |
| Production Method | $100\%$ Hand-Painted Oil on Canvas |
| Medium | Artist-Grade Oil Paint on Pure Linen Canvas |
| Custom Size Options | Available in standard master scales or custom-scaled dimensions |
| Location of Original | Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA), Northampton, MA, US |
| Shipping Format | Rolled in Heavy-Duty Protective Tube (Stretched/Framed options available) |










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