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Moving images: How dance has been captured in art

28 March 2019

As dancers across the land limber up for our #DancePassion extravaganza, we take a look at how artists have captured dance and movement in paintings from the UK's art collections.

Leopold Schmutzler (1864–1941), The Minuet, 1900 (detail) | Photo credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Art UK

Throughout history dance has played a key part in rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and entertainment. A talented dancer is captivating to watch but complex to capture. Many artists have taken on the challenge of immortalising both the motion of dancing and emotion of dancers, in paint.

We took a look through the huge archive of paintings available at Art UK to see how various artists including Degas, Romney and Forain have painted dancers.

George Romney (1734–1802), The Gower Family: The Children of Granville, 2nd Earl Gower, 1776–1777 | Photo credit: Lakeland Arts Trust, Art UK
Edgar Degas (1834–1917), Two Dancers on a Stage, 1874 | Photo credit: The Courtauld Gallery, Art UK
Dorothy E. Vicaji (1880–1945), 'Argentina', the Dancer | Photo credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Art UK
Edgar Degas (1834–1917), Ballet Dancers, about 1890-1900 | Photo credit: The National Gallery, London, Art UK
Charles Conder (1868–1909), The Moulin Rouge, 1890 (detail) | Photo credit: Manchester Art Gallery, Art UK
Jean Louis Forain (1852–1931), Dancers in the Wings, c.1904 | Photo credit: Manchester Art Gallery, Art UK
Mabel Frances Layng (1881–1937), Tea Dance, 1925–1930 | Photo credit: Staffordshire Archives & Heritage, Art UK
Duncan Mackellar (1849–1908), The Minuet, c.1908 | Photo credit: Glasgow Museums, Art UK
John Haynes-Williams (1836–1908), Spanish Dancer, 1873 (detail) | Photo credit: Manchester Art Gallery, Art UK
William Gale (1823–1909), The Dance of Nymphs, 1855 (detail) | Photo credit: Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC), Art UK

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