Le Défilé (Race Horses before the Stands)
Painting on paper mounted on canvas • Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917)
Style & Movement
Impressionism / Realism
Medium & Technique
Essence on paper (oil thinned with turpentine) mounted on canvas; uses quick, sketchy brushwork characteristic of plein air studies.
Creation Period
circa 1866-1868
Dimensions & Format
46 cm x 61 cm (18.1 in x 24 in); Landscape orientation
Subject Description
A scene at the Longchamp racecourse showing jockeys on horseback parading before a crowd in the stands. The composition is notable for its unconventional cropping, long shadows, and the depiction of modern Parisian leisure.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; professionally conserved as part of a major museum collection.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $25,000,000 (Estimate based on comparable prime-period Degas oils at auction)
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $20,000,000
Provenance History
Acquired by Jean-Baptiste Faure; gift of Count Isaac de Camondo to the French State in 1911; currently in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Art Historical Significance
One of Degas's earliest and most significant masterpieces exploring the theme of the horse racing. It marks his transition from historical painting to the 'painting of modern life' advocated by Baudelaire, influenced by Japanese prints and early photography.
Notable Features
Signature at lower left; the painting belongs to the famous Camondo collection; notable for the use of 'essence' technique which gives it a matte, pastel-like finish.
Condition Issues
Minor age-appropriate darkening of the paper support; faint craquelure typical of oil on paper transfers.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity and temperature; UV-filtered glazing; low-intensity lighting to prevent further darkening of paper.