Optional - receive your painting ready to hang. Note we are only able to ship framed paintings up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached, the framing option is automatically disabled. If ordered without a frame the painting will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5" white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
The Dance Class II is located on the second floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting was created to be part of an 1874 exhibition, that would be considered one of the first Impressionist exhibitions. This exhibition was put together with considerable controversy, as it would be the first non-academic art exhibition and intended to break with the original Paris Salon of art. This painting was incredibly controversial and outrageous, but nowadays it looks nothing but classical and graceful to us.
There is a large group of ballerinas in a room and a dance master in the middle, leaning on a sort of a walking stick. The difference between this piece and other pieces from its time is that in this one only one of the ballerinas is dancing in the middle, while the others are practicing or distracted around the room. It was very unusual to portrait people caught in casual moments on an oil painting. One of the ballerinas is checking her dress, and the other is untying the band she has around her neck. Some mothers or escorts are on the back, relaxing while they wait for the little dancers. Another one, right on the middle ground, is biting her nails. These small gestures give an intense life to the painting, but at the same time break with the idea of the academic art of what should be painted on a final piece of art.
The whole painting is very diagonal. There are dancers in the foreground on the left side of the painting, and we can see details of her dresses, flowers, and shoes. They are also portrayed in casual moments. The one further on the left side looks like she is reading a book, while the two on the foreground are putting together each other tutus. The eye is guided to the right side of the painting cutting the painting diagonally with a path of dancers painted in pearl and pastel colors in the middle of the decolored green room. There is a mirror on the left wall where some ballerinas practice and this mirror reflects one of the massive windows that would be out of the panel. The mirror casts a shiny light over the whole painting as if opening a window for the viewer.
It’s important to make a comparison with the piece The Ballet Class, where several elements are repeated. The green room is darker, and there isn’t a beautiful frame around the mirror, but the layout of the room is the scene, and the ballerinas are in similar positions. They also form a diagonal shape from the bottom left side to the top right side, and the dance master also stands in the middle with his walking stick.
Real Oil Paints, Real Brushes, Real Artists, Real Art. The Certificate of Authenticity which arrives with every painting provides an assurance and verifies the authenticity of the hand painted fine art reproduction you purchased. Each oil painting is created by hand using only the finest canvas and oil paints available.
Important Notes About Your Painting:
If you have any request to alter your reproduction of The Dance Class II,
you must email us after placing your order and we'll have an artist contact you.
If you have another image of The Dance Class II
that you would like the artist to work from, please include it as an attachment. Otherwise, we will reproduce the above image for you exactly as it is.
Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible - normally within three business days. The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks.
If, in the unlikely event you were dissatisfied with the painting after reviewing it in person, it can be returned for a full refund for up to 365 days after delivery.
When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost -- which is, on average, $25 per painting.
1st Art Gallery provides a full warranty covering manufacturing and material defects for paintings purchased from our website. The warranty covers damage for normal use. Damage caused by incidents such as accidents or inappropriate use are not covered.
Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
When purchasing a painting on its own, it will arrive rolled inside a secure plastic tube with an extra 1.5" of white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
You may choose to purchase your painting framed, in which case, it will arrive "ready to hang". We offer more than 20 beautiful models, all hand finished and expertly assembled by our experienced framers.
Note that for safety reasons we can only frame up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached the framing option is automatically disabled.