imagine seeing a sculpture when you were a child and it having enough of an impact on you that you remembered it many years later, and then GETTING TO WORK ON CONSERVING IT as an adult. crazy
I saw this sculpture when it toured...in Liverpool in the 1980s and it certainly stayed with me. I was about the same age as the dancer, 14...and I well remember her skirt and ribbon.
As someone else commented, I can’t imagine how amazing it must be, as an adult, to work on a piece of art that was so impactful on you as a child. I have to say that he did an amazing job. It didn’t look right before. Proportions were off. It wasn’t historically accurate. It wasn’t representative of Degas. Now it is all of the above. Perfect color and fabric choice. Couldn’t be better.
I wrote a paper on la petite danseuse de quatorze ans when I was 14. We were supposed to be given an artist by our teacher and write about their work. I remembered being 5 and watching a documentary on, among others, Degas with my grandma and I requested him as my artist. I was the only one who requested someone hahaha. I poured my little heart into that paper and I was the only one who got a top grade. In my research process I fell in love with la petite danseuse de quatorze ans and I had to struggle not to make my paper into just a fangirl page. I remember reading that the owners of the sculptures were responsible for her tutu and I was really curious as to how why anyone needed to be responsible. Thank you so much for this video and for showing me why! I'm 18 now and my goal is to see any of the bronze sculptures of her before I turn 20!
This new shirt is perfect. I’m not sure why they made her look like a street urchin before. She’s a dancer and a vision of beauty, not a dirty street walker. Thank you for changing the skirt in a much more flattering way that makes her into the lovely little dancer she is.
does he have to justify particular changes when conserving these things or do they just sort of let him do his thing? I love the restoration of this though!!
I think he's in a position of trust due to his experience so he would have the final say. He's more like an artistic director as well as a conservator.
I think the history of the sculpture itself has the skirt being changed about every 20 years. So it comes to a point where the current skirt is so degraded and not longer lends itself to the sculpture itself it needs to be replaced to be viewed properly, or may begin to take away from the piece as a whole. The original skirt is preserved if they museum ever decides to have the original put back on.
He may even have a group he talks with beforehand, and it's pretty obvious he's doing/done research on how it should look. I think he did a great job as well, you can tell the sculpture was designed for a fuller skirt like the one he added, as the top piece stuck out too far over the skirt that was started with.
I saw this sculpture about two years ago thru a school field trip, dega impacted me in ways I could never have imagined with his art. I'm so happy this sculpture is being cared for in such a way
I absolutely adore this... the bronze statue was made by Degas' heirs, who made their personal decisions on how it would look... and each conservator who has replaced the skirts, has gotten to make their own decisions about the skirt... I like that idea, of it not being simply a strict reproduction of the same thing every time, but instead each step of its preservation reflects every pair of hands that has worked on it as each person makes choices on how to preserve it (within reason, of course they all keep some idea of the original and how to keep it in line with the aesthetic, but it seems like each conservator has gotten to have some freedom of choice in HOW to achieve that)... a living work! Super cool, it must be so fun and such an honor to get to do this.
By adding length to the skirt, it's not only historically more accurate; but there is added movement in the sculpture as the skirt seems to pivot on the hip bone of the ballerina. It's beautiful!
As a kid there was a small Rodin bust tucked away in a quiet hallway, in our city's small local gallery. She was very striking. This reminded me of that, when the Conservator mentioned remembering seeing her as a kid.
We have one of these statues at the VMFA, and omgoodness. I feel like a big deal was made out of the new skirt on our piece, which on the website is definitely more airy and softer in color than the one that was at the met. But it's not nearly as beautiful as the final work here!! As a kid I was always fascinated and troubled by this sculpture, and the contrasts were a big part of why. So I'm so glad you got to work on this piece, and when you put the new skirt on her, I gasped. It's so much more like she was meant to be. Thank you, and I'll have to see your work sometime in person.
Huge improvement. The angle the skirt flares out from the stiff fullness, matchs with the angle from not only the small section of the dress below the waist above it, but the pointed leg below. It looks so right. In comparison, the previous tutu looked like a limp dirty bell, and I'm sure less true to the artist's original vision.
The volume he chose to add really brought her to life. She looks like shes distracted in dance class. How her hands press on the back of the skirt really shows off her posture better, and how laxed she looks. Even if this isn’t the case with it, she looks so much more lively
I am sure lots of people will have very strong opinions on this. I don’t want to go threw for that reason and because I had a very strong reaction. I’m not sure what came together right for me as you put her together but I quietly began to cry by the end of the video. She’s beautiful. The way her arms slightly change how the skirt is falling is perfect. Thank you for caring about her.
Well done! I really like the fact the skirt is now more authentic to the period and fits the look of the artists other portrayals of contemporary dancers. Ps. I suppose many other people have pointed out the similar pose to that of 'Fearless Girl'. I'm probably ignorant and the one peice is probably well known to have inspired the other.
I love this recreation of the shirt. I do think it looks much better than the previous one. This one closer resembles the dancers’ skirts in his original paintings.
It’s too bad I went to the MET before the skirt was restored. I remember looking upon the statue and wondering how the skirt did not really go along with how Degas dancers were portrayed in his art. This conservator did an amazing job on both choosing fabric and sewing it. It takes me back to gazing into each Degas work and enjoying the noticeable layers in the ballet skirts. Very graceful and beautiful with a hint of ballet charm.
Mr Peterson has done an exemplary piece of work, but I feel a sadness that a change should have been made, because the little girl is a figure of the past, an expression of her brave little life, and a time now long gone. I thought her tutu in its worn state was a beautiful example of this.
I remember seeing this sculpture 2 years ago thinking it’s strange that it had fabric on it. That time I didn’t like it much because it looked ragged and dirty to me. I would love to see it again with the new skirt. Looks way better!!
The top and the ribbon should be changed and I like how the new skirt is puffed up but the color from the previous one suited the material of the sculpture better and it was a bit tattered which represents the age betteer
The skirt never made sense to me that it was so flat and unlike any of his other tutus in his paintings. So im very happy that we get to see a skirt that actually makes sense and brings the statue to it’s original beauty
My teacher told us that the model was a very poor girl that was close to selling her body for money, until the sculptor found her and decided to pay her so she could model instead. She was not a ballerina in fact.
I've seen this sculpture in person it's an incredible piece. I literally just stood and studied it for 30 minutes. It's remained my favourite since I just sew it in pictures. It has an almost alive feeling to it.
This is a gorgeous conservation! The one at the MFA (I also grew up near Boston, and coincidentally ended up working at the MFA for several years doing archival work) disturbed me as a child, too. It's wild how much of a difference that skirt makes. It looks so much more period appropriate.
When I was in 6th grade we made poems about a piece of art in a art museum and I chose the little dancer and I ended up winning honerable mention ( sorry for bad English it's my 2 language)
I have seen seven of the Little Dancers throughout the world. I am still looking to see the remaining ones open to the public. I need to revisit the one in the Met to see how beautiful it is after the conservation.
imagine seeing a sculpture when you were a child and it having enough of an impact on you that you remembered it many years later, and then GETTING TO WORK ON CONSERVING IT as an adult. crazy
I saw this sculpture when it toured...in Liverpool in the 1980s and it certainly stayed with me. I was about the same age as the dancer, 14...and I well remember her skirt and ribbon.
The newer skirt fits the sculpture so much better. Also I loved that the original one was preserved as well
Angelica C the new skirt gave a more balanced layout to statue. I liked it.
kayizcray I think it was meant to be.
Hey guys just figured out from my grandmother Edgar degas is my great great grandfather ❤🎉
With such thought, care and sensitivity, you have brought Marie back to life. Beautiful job, you should be proud of your work.
I love the choices that were made on going more according to the time period, and also. I think the skirt helps bring out the life of sculpture.
As someone else commented, I can’t imagine how amazing it must be, as an adult, to work on a piece of art that was so impactful on you as a child. I have to say that he did an amazing job. It didn’t look right before. Proportions were off. It wasn’t historically accurate. It wasn’t representative of Degas. Now it is all of the above. Perfect color and fabric choice. Couldn’t be better.
This version is just absolutely gorgeous, I adore the shape and color. Well done.
I wrote a paper on la petite danseuse de quatorze ans when I was 14. We were supposed to be given an artist by our teacher and write about their work. I remembered being 5 and watching a documentary on, among others, Degas with my grandma and I requested him as my artist. I was the only one who requested someone hahaha. I poured my little heart into that paper and I was the only one who got a top grade. In my research process I fell in love with la petite danseuse de quatorze ans and I had to struggle not to make my paper into just a fangirl page. I remember reading that the owners of the sculptures were responsible for her tutu and I was really curious as to how why anyone needed to be responsible. Thank you so much for this video and for showing me why!
I'm 18 now and my goal is to see any of the bronze sculptures of her before I turn 20!
Hello Hedda! Your story is magical. Covid messed up everyone's plans. What is your goal now?
this is so precious!! she really looks like a dancer now :) very cute & harmonious tutu
This new shirt is perfect. I’m not sure why they made her look like a street urchin before. She’s a dancer and a vision of beauty, not a dirty street walker. Thank you for changing the skirt in a much more flattering way that makes her into the lovely little dancer she is.
I absolutely love how much you appreciate your work
Vanessa oh my gaaaaad
does he have to justify particular changes when conserving these things or do they just sort of let him do his thing? I love the restoration of this though!!
I think he's in a position of trust due to his experience so he would have the final say. He's more like an artistic director as well as a conservator.
I think the history of the sculpture itself has the skirt being changed about every 20 years. So it comes to a point where the current skirt is so degraded and not longer lends itself to the sculpture itself it needs to be replaced to be viewed properly, or may begin to take away from the piece as a whole. The original skirt is preserved if they museum ever decides to have the original put back on.
He may even have a group he talks with beforehand, and it's pretty obvious he's doing/done research on how it should look. I think he did a great job as well, you can tell the sculpture was designed for a fuller skirt like the one he added, as the top piece stuck out too far over the skirt that was started with.
Fourtwentea Your profile picture is A1 👌👌
Fiery Soul absolutely appreciate it 😔🤟
Really lovely and considerate tutu replacement. I agree with the sentiment expressed.💖
Wow the finnished skirt looks incredible!!
I saw this sculpture about two years ago thru a school field trip, dega impacted me in ways I could never have imagined with his art. I'm so happy this sculpture is being cared for in such a way
He's done a fantastic job with this! Beautiful work
What a great improvement! It looks so right after the revision. Well Done!
i remember visiting D'Orsay and seeing this sculpture! ♥
Seeing its tutu being restored is just!!! and you did an amazing job ♥♥♥
Beautiful job, it looks like it has come to life with the lovely restoration you have done!
The transformation takes my breath away! She was made for that skirt.
I absolutely adore this... the bronze statue was made by Degas' heirs, who made their personal decisions on how it would look... and each conservator who has replaced the skirts, has gotten to make their own decisions about the skirt... I like that idea, of it not being simply a strict reproduction of the same thing every time, but instead each step of its preservation reflects every pair of hands that has worked on it as each person makes choices on how to preserve it (within reason, of course they all keep some idea of the original and how to keep it in line with the aesthetic, but it seems like each conservator has gotten to have some freedom of choice in HOW to achieve that)... a living work! Super cool, it must be so fun and such an honor to get to do this.
By adding length to the skirt, it's not only historically more accurate; but there is added movement in the sculpture as the skirt seems to pivot on the hip bone of the ballerina. It's beautiful!
As a kid there was a small Rodin bust tucked away in a quiet hallway, in our city's small local gallery. She was very striking. This reminded me of that, when the Conservator mentioned remembering seeing her as a kid.
Absolutely fascinating. What beautiful attention to detail!
We have one of these statues at the VMFA, and omgoodness. I feel like a big deal was made out of the new skirt on our piece, which on the website is definitely more airy and softer in color than the one that was at the met. But it's not nearly as beautiful as the final work here!! As a kid I was always fascinated and troubled by this sculpture, and the contrasts were a big part of why. So I'm so glad you got to work on this piece, and when you put the new skirt on her, I gasped. It's so much more like she was meant to be. Thank you, and I'll have to see your work sometime in person.
Bravo ! I've seen the original and happy that you gave it back its life.
Huge improvement. The angle the skirt flares out from the stiff fullness, matchs with the angle from not only the small section of the dress below the waist above it, but the pointed leg below. It looks so right. In comparison, the previous tutu looked like a limp dirty bell, and I'm sure less true to the artist's original vision.
fabulous. Great decisions and choices. Impressive work
BEAUTIFUL SKIRT....ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SKIRT....So happy to see this skirt.
The volume he chose to add really brought her to life. She looks like shes distracted in dance class. How her hands press on the back of the skirt really shows off her posture better, and how laxed she looks. Even if this isn’t the case with it, she looks so much more lively
I am sure lots of people will have very strong opinions on this. I don’t want to go threw for that reason and because I had a very strong reaction. I’m not sure what came together right for me as you put her together but I quietly began to cry by the end of the video. She’s beautiful. The way her arms slightly change how the skirt is falling is perfect. Thank you for caring about her.
Amazing what a difference the new skirt has made. It really brought the sculpture to life. Degas would be proud, I would think
I got a legitimate WOW moment. That skirt is perfection. Bravo!
Absolutely gorgeous research, design and restoration work.
Beautifully done, many congratulations!
Oh I’m in love. This skirt is so fitting, appropriate, and beautiful. 🥰
The new skirt is so nice!
I REMEMBER GOING HERE ON September 28th !!!! Such an amazing museum!! (:
Well done! I really like the fact the skirt is now more authentic to the period and fits the look of the artists other portrayals of contemporary dancers.
Ps. I suppose many other people have pointed out the similar pose to that of 'Fearless Girl'. I'm probably ignorant and the one peice is probably well known to have inspired the other.
Final version looks really amazing!
This is one of my favorite works
I love this recreation of the shirt. I do think it looks much better than the previous one. This one closer resembles the dancers’ skirts in his original paintings.
Such a great job! Much better!
Such a great job!!!
Beautifully done
I am so impressed. What an amazing work
Wonderful skirt!
She looks more beautiful in her new skirt
It’s too bad I went to the MET before the skirt was restored. I remember looking upon the statue and wondering how the skirt did not really go along with how Degas dancers were portrayed in his art. This conservator did an amazing job on both choosing fabric and sewing it. It takes me back to gazing into each Degas work and enjoying the noticeable layers in the ballet skirts. Very graceful and beautiful with a hint of ballet charm.
Mr Peterson has done an exemplary piece of work, but I feel a sadness that a change should have been made, because the little girl is a figure of the past, an expression of her brave little life, and a time now long gone. I thought her tutu in its worn state was a beautiful example of this.
I remember seeing this sculpture 2 years ago thinking it’s strange that it had fabric on it. That time I didn’t like it much because it looked ragged and dirty to me. I would love to see it again with the new skirt. Looks way better!!
He did an amazing job!!👌🏼
Shes a pretty girl and deserve a new skirt 😍
I miss museums
Let me get this straight, the original wax sculpture was destroyed to make the bronze sculpture?
very nice
Beautiful
It is perfect.
The top and the ribbon should be changed and I like how the new skirt is puffed up but the color from the previous one suited the material of the sculpture better and it was a bit tattered which represents the age betteer
Great job ....its now balanced .
Did that person reach up and touch the statue from 0:49-0:51?
YESSS!
His voice...!
I love it!
Ameiii 💚
omg that looks so much better with the new skirt
Excellent work. Is Glenn single? Benn
Now she really looks like a Degas's Ballerina :)
Thank you for fixing her, she looks 100 times better now in her new skirt.
The skirt never made sense to me that it was so flat and unlike any of his other tutus in his paintings. So im very happy that we get to see a skirt that actually makes sense and brings the statue to it’s original beauty
Evie Sakura but that was the idea. It was dirty and flat and shows the tattered ballet aspects which was the point of the sculpture
My teacher told us that the model was a very poor girl that was close to selling her body for money, until the sculptor found her and decided to pay her so she could model instead. She was not a ballerina in fact.
@@julietteprice7175 YES YES YES!
@@WEYfflesactually her parent paid for her to go to ballet school. She needed money when her father died.
wow the new skirt looks amazing, i think how degas would have imagined her
My absolute favorite sculpture. I would be in tears if I got to see her in real life. You made her even prettier. Thank you.
Oh man me too! I love this little dancer ❤
Same! 💜
I've seen this sculpture in person it's an incredible piece. I literally just stood and studied it for 30 minutes. It's remained my favourite since I just sew it in pictures. It has an almost alive feeling to it.
It now looks 'right'
Such a thoughtful, careful conservation. Love that Mr. Petersen places the old tutu in a preservation box for future conservators to view.
I never new it was not made in bronze. Pls tell him he did a beautiful job on the skirt.
This is a gorgeous conservation! The one at the MFA (I also grew up near Boston, and coincidentally ended up working at the MFA for several years doing archival work) disturbed me as a child, too. It's wild how much of a difference that skirt makes. It looks so much more period appropriate.
The best skirt so far. Fantastic job, it's so cohesive!
Somewhere in storage is a box of all her old skirts, so they can look at these in the future when needed.
I hope they do it pretty soon .
it's better than all the previous ones! A lot more historically accurate and pleasing to the eye
Exactly 3:58 : Monday morning at work.
His voice hurts my lungs somehow...
@@ledymeghaghynandini5490 I was really struggling to watch the video through. His voice was really getting to me!
You don't point out such things. It's very rude. It's not something he can change so it's very hurtful.
M Z um
M Z YoU dOnT sAy tHaT
Amazing job with the new skirt. Dega would be proud of how his sculpture looks like now.
He reminds me of Maryl Streep 😄
So this is what static sounds like as a voice
You suck, man.
Green Aesthetics oh dear. Another Internet moron.
When I was in 6th grade we made poems about a piece of art in a art museum and I chose the little dancer and I ended up winning honerable mention ( sorry for bad English it's my 2 language)
i love the length!!! it looks so much better !!
He sounds like Gabe from The Office
I didn't realize that was a cloth skirt.
I love that this is a living sculpture in a way that almost no other sculpture can be.
I love the newly constructed tutu, it looks beautiful & more natural than what was originally there.
He absolutely nailed it!
I have seen seven of the Little Dancers throughout the world. I am still looking to see the remaining ones open to the public. I need to revisit the one in the Met to see how beautiful it is after the conservation.
the best she has looked in decades!!
Well done....expert craftsmanship!
The skirt looks wonderful.
Sometimes all a girl needs is nice new skirt
Bravo! Glenn Peterson, The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, has never looked lovelier.
Seen this in person one of my favorites
Such an interesting man. The 'something didn't look right', his adverse reaction is so interesting, as even a kid. He knew.
The new skirt looks 100% better.
He did a great job, that looks perfect
It truly DOES look nicer! Hats off! :-))
I’m pretty sure I saw the sculpture in the tate modern museum