Throughout his prolific career, Edgar Degas had an enduring passion for depicting dance scenes, in particular the world of 19th century ballet. While the real exhibit of "Degas and the Dance" may have concluded in May 2003, this virtual exhibit provided by the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a lovely way to explore the various works of art created by Degas dealing with dance. Appropriately enough, the exhibit is divided into different areas that correspond to such themes as "Portraits of Dancers", "In the Wings", and "Orgies of Color". Within each gallery, visitors can view a close up of each artwork, accompanied by a brief description that describes the medium, the provenance of each piece, and a bit about the subject. For some of the artworks, there is an audio clip that gives additional information and context. Finally, the "Degas for Kids" allows younger visitors the opportunity to interact some of the paintings by clicking on various elements of each work in order to find out about the ballerinas and their art.
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