Where is this painting displayed?

It's at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in England, acquired in 1960.

When did Degas paint this?

Degas created this in 1857 during his Italian travels, before he developed his famous style focused on dancers and Parisian life Edgar Degas created it as part of the French artistic tradition.

What makes this an early work?

The subject and approach show Degas studying Old Masters and painting traditional subjects before turning to modern life and Impressionism.

Where Is A Roman Beggar Woman? Museum Location

French artist Edgar Degas painted this early work in 1857 during his time in Italy, depicting an elderly woman in poverty. She sits on a threshold, gazing into the distance, surrounded by the meager belongings of her existence. The work shows Degas grappling with traditional subjects before developing his later style.

Degas spent nearly two years in Italy studying Renaissance masters. This portrait of poverty demonstrates his early commitment to honest observation, rendering age and hardship without idealization. With just four colors, he created a powerful image of human dignity. It hangs at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.