Who was Giulia Bellelli?

Giulia Bellelli was Degas's cousin, daughter of his aunt Laura and Baron Gennaro Bellelli. She appears in the famous "Bellelli Family" portrait now at the Musée d'Orsay.

Where is the main Bellelli Family painting?

"The Bellelli Family" (1858-1867) hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It is considered Degas's first work and established his reputation as a portraitist.

When did Degas paint this?

Degas created studies of the Bellelli family during visits to Florence in the late 1850s. He worked on the main family portrait for nearly a decade before completing it around 1867.

Where Is Portrait of Giulia Bellelli? Museum Location

Edgar Degas rendered this portrait of his cousin Giulia Bellelli, likely as a study for his famous family portrait "The Bellelli Family." Degas spent time with his Italian relatives in Florence during the late 1850s, creating numerous studies that would inform his breakthrough work. The Bellelli family portrait, now at the Musée d'Orsay, established his reputation.

Degas brought psychological insight to his portraits, capturing personality through pose, expression, and setting. Though later famous for dancers and racing scenes, his early work focused on family portraits and historical subjects. His training in the classical tradition gave him formidable draftsmanship that underlaid all his later innovations.

This portrait remains in a private collection. The main Bellelli Family portrait can be seen at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, while other Degas portraits are held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.