BNY Mellon Sponsor's statement

'They call me the painter of dancers, not understanding that for me the dance is a pretext for [...] rendering movement,’ Edgar Degas once said. Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement brings together many important and much-loved paintings, drawings, pastels and sculptures to provide a fascinating insight into the artist’s approach to the visual challenges of expressing the figure in motion.

The work of Edgar Degas was a personal favourite of the art collector and philanthropist Paul Mellon, and the public’s perception of Degas as a sculptor was heightened in 1956 after Mr Mellon bought the entire collection of the artist’s original wax sculptures, later bequeathing them to galleries and museums in the United Kingdom, America and France for future generations to enjoy.

BNY Mellon’s long-standing commitment to the arts as part of our global philanthropic endeavours, and in particular our valued and enduring partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts, has spanned many projects. The Royal Academy’s championing of public access and education reflects the key principles that direct BNY Mellon’s international programme of arts sponsorship and it is therefore a particular privilege for us to support this captivating exhibition.