BACK TO THE ARTIST   The Rehearsal Onstage, 1874           Details     Description     Artist EDGAR DEGAS This is one of three very similar works by3„4Degas3„4all painted around 1874, that show a ballet rehearsal on stage. In this version an ink underdrawing was covered with watercolour, built up with opaque layers of essence and, finally, oil paint. The resulting tones are particularly effective in suggesting the artificial stage lighting. The Rehearsal of the Ballet on the Stage was included in the sale of Henry Hill’s collection in 1899, and purchased by Sickert for his wife Ellen. It changed hands a number of times during the next few years and was eventually bought by Mrs Havemeyer in 1902.   Date 1874   Institution The Metropolitan Museum of Art     Medium Pastel over brush-and-ink drawing on thin cream-colored wove paper, laid down on bristol board and mounted on canvas   Dimensions 53.3 x 72.4 cm