The Bellelli family by Edgar Degas

The peak of the skill of the early Degas, where he declared himself as a master of the portrait genre, is considered the “Bellelli Family”.

Creating the paintings, the artist did not tire his models with a long pose and the selection of successful positions, but allowed them to do what they did in the ordinary. This canvas is no exception, but, for a number of moments, it is referred to the standard group portrait genre, considering the best, among similar works created in the middle of the XIX century.

Despite the “naturalness” of the picture, there is deep psychology, dramatic acuity, as well as professionalism in the transmission of light combined with an accurate, almost photographic depiction of the scene.

The figure of the Baroness is attractive, she, as well as her husband Gennaro, is tired of family life, and also, as it were, indifferent to everything that is happening. Aristocratic calm is only an appearance, and it is clearly felt how in the souls of the spouses there is a tense internal struggle, and only children are a unifying link that does not allow the interruption of painful cohabitation.