Most expensive picture by Degas

Danseuse au repos (c.1879), a pastel of a ballet dancer by the French artist Edgar Degas (1834 – 1917) sold for £17,601,500 ($27,868,455) at Sotheby’s, London, UK on 28 Jun 1999.

The work was sold with its original frame designed by Degas. It shows a young dancer relaxing after the rigours of training, massaging her left foot while sitting on a bench next to a second dancer of which only the frills of her skirt can be seen. The work became the most expensive on paper ever sold at auction.

See also Attempt ID 87449.