Musée d’Orsay · 1858
The Bellelli Family
Edgar Degas
Degas painted his aunt Laura Bellelli and her family in Florence, capturing something beyond a formal likeness — Laura stands beside a portrait of her recently deceased father, dressed in mourning, while her husband sits apart at his desk, physically separated from the rest of the family within the same room.
Why it matters
Degas painted his aunt Laura Bellelli and her family in Florence, capturing something beyond a formal likeness — Laura stands beside a portrait of her recently deceased father, dressed in mourning, while her husband sits apart at his desk, physically separated from the rest of the family within the same room.
Look closer
Notice how the composition itself tells the story — Laura and her daughters form a tight, upright group on one side, while her husband is pushed to the edge of the canvas, seen mostly from behind.
Degas worked on this painting for years after returning from Florence, and it remains one of the most ambitious group portraits of the entire 19th century — widely considered the true beginning of his career as a serious painter.
Value context
ELYIO places this work in an indicative editorial context of €20–38 million.
The museum work is not for sale. This is ELYIO indicative context—not an appraisal, insurance value or offer.