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JOHN DYER
Original Paintings
New paintings available to buy online now by Cornwall's best loved artist.
JOANNE SHORT
Original Oil Paintings
New paintings available to buy online now by Cornwall's acclaimed colourist painter.
TED DYER
Original Oil Paintings
New paintings available to buy online by Cornwall's best known impressionist artist.
All Original Paintings
View all of the new original paintings that we have available to buy online now in our online gallery.
The ones you missed
View all of the recently sold original paintings by our Cornish artists John Dyer, Ted Dyer and Joanne Short.
Christmas Exhibition St Ives 2024
Private View: 6th December 6pm to 8pm
Exhibition continues: 7th - 8th
Easter Exhibition St Ives 2024
New paintings by John Dyer & Joanne Short in the historic Porthmeor Studios in St Ives.
St Ives Crypt Gallery 2023
Exhibition of paintings at the historic St Ives Society of Artists' Crypt Gallery.
Explore our Previous Exhibitions
Enjoy exploring our previous exhibitions and discover amazing paintings.
Press Coverage and Testimonials
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Spirit of the Rainforest with the Yawanawá Tribe. Explore the Amazon with artist John Dyer & Musician Martha-Lilly Dyer.
Person of the Forest with the Penan Tribe. Explore Borneo & orangutans with artist John Dyer & Musician Martha-Lilly Dyer.
Precious Africa with the Maasai Tribe. Explore Kenya with artists John Dyer & Joanne Short.
Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a seminal French artist known for his innovative approach to capturing movement and modern life. Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris, he later changed his surname to the more straightforward "Degas." Raised in a wealthy family, Degas initially studied law but soon shifted to pursue his passion for art. He enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1855, studying under Louis Lamothe, a disciple of the classical painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
Degas's early career was marked by his travels to Italy from 1856 to 1859, where he meticulously studied Renaissance art and began his first major work, "The Bellelli Family" (1858-1867). His friendship with Édouard Manet, formed in the 1860s, was crucial in shaping his artistic direction. Manet's influence steered Degas towards contemporary subjects and the burgeoning Impressionist movement, though Degas preferred to identify as a Realist.
A distinctive aspect of Degas's work is his focus on the human figure, especially female subjects like dancers, laundresses, and bathers. His numerous depictions of ballet dancers, such as in "The Dance Class" (1874), highlight his fascination with movement and the dynamics of the human body. These works, rendered in pastels and oils, often captured the dancers in candid, unposed moments, showcasing his skill in conveying realism through an Impressionistic lens.
Degas's innovative use of unusual viewpoints, cropping, and asymmetrical compositions brought a fresh perspective to traditional themes. Despite his association with the Impressionists, Degas differed from his peers by focusing on line and form rather than light and colour. His sculptural work, including the famous "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" (1881), further exemplified his interest in capturing the essence of human movement.
Degas struggled with poor eyesight throughout his life, which increasingly influenced his later works. Despite this, he continued experimenting with various media, including photography, which informed his approach to composition and framing. Degas remained a pivotal figure in the art world until he died in 1917, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence modern art.
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