I remember how excited I was, aged 10, when I first saw Degas' bronze sculpture of the "Little Dancer" in the Whitworth art gallery, Manchester. A few years later I was stood in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, surrounded by more paintings and works of art by Degas. Today I went to the Royal Academy of Arts, London to see the exhibition Degas and the Ballet which illustrated how Degas was influenced by the scientists and photographers who took high speed photographs of figures in action. Although I particularly love Degas' paintings of women bathing and brushing their hair, it was lovely to see the "Little dancer" again, complete with wig, muslin bodice, silk tutu and pink hair ribbon. A wonderful exhibition!
