How a museum conservator recreates the delicate details of a Degas masterpiece
In short: Step inside the conservation lab to see the meticulous construction of a new tutu for Edgar Degas's The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, a sculpture that blends bronze with soft fabric.
Costume conservator Glenn Peterson details the complex decisions involved in preserving the textile elements of this iconic work. While the sculpture's body is bronze, the piece features a cotton skirt and a satin hair ribbon. The video explores the history of the model, which was executed around 1880 and later cast in 1922 by A. A. Hébrard.
The project highlights the intersection of sculpture and textile art, showcasing the care required to maintain the physical integrity of multi-material masterpieces like this one from the H. O. Havemeyer Collection.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Conserving Degas
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