Degas at the National Gallery
An exciting new exhibition at the National Gallery brings Degas’s radical Impressionist masterwork, Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, to the forefront, unveiling newly discovered information about the painting and its captivating subject. The exhibition will run until, 1st September.
This extraordinary painting, created in 1879, immortalizes a remarkable moment featuring the talented circus artist Miss La La, whose real name was Anna Albertine Olga Brown (1858‒1945). Degas captured her in one of her most daring and striking acts: suspended from a rope held between her teeth by a leather mouthpiece, Miss La La is hoisted towards the ceiling of the Cirque Fernando.
The exhibition showcases rare, previously untraced drawings of Miss La La by Degas and unpublished photographic portraits of her, shedding new light on both the artist and his subject. This fresh material enriches the narrative of the painting, highlighting Miss La La’s extraordinary talent and the significance of Degas’s work.
This exhibition is the third installment in the Gallery’s Discover series, which aims to explore lesser-known masterpieces from a new perspective. Previous exhibitions in this series include Discover Manet & Eva Gonzalès and Discover Liotard & The Lavergne Family Breakfast.
By turning the spotlight on Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, the Gallery offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating story behind this exceptional painting and its enigmatic sitter.
