Young Spartans Exercising
Edgar Degas · 1860
Why it's great
Boys and girls in ancient Sparta challenge each other in wrestling and races, as the old women watch. Degas painted this early in his career. The poses are lively and the faces are real. It's an imaginative picture of ancient life.
Where to see it
📍 National GalleryLondon, United Kingdom
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Edgar Degas was born in Paris to a well-to-do family and lived there almost all his life. He's linked to the Impressionists, but preferred to work indoors, painting ballet dancers, racehorses, and women at their daily routines. He loved to catch unusual angles, as if a camera had snapped the scene. In old age his eyesight failed and he turned to sculpture.
