Portrait of Giulia Bellelli (sketch)

This painting by Edgar Degas preparatory sketch of young Giulia Bellelli, his cousin, for his ambitious family portrait begun in 1858. The drawing captures the child's face with sensitive observation, rendering her solemn expression using economical but precise lines. Degas made numerous such studies during his extended stay with the Bellelli family in Florence while developing his skills.

The finished painting, now in the Musée d'Orsay, depicts the fractured family dynamics that Degas observed during his visit. This sketch demonstrates his rigorous training in classical draftsmanship, skills learned from studying Ingres and Italian Renaissance masters. The work resides at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC. It reveals how carefully Degas prepared his compositions, studying individual figures repeatedly before combining them into larger, more complex works.