Edgar Degas Pastel Box -1870

Photo © 2008 Karen F. Rose

A selection of over 500 H. Roche pastels from
La Maison du Pastel
on display at the musee d'Orsay

Photo ©  2008 Karen F. Rose

Edgar Degas pastel box from 1870. With all those
pastels- how to choose?

Photo © 2008 Karen F. Rose

Whenever I am involved in a workshop students

always buzz with conversation about equipment.

prochade boxes, the best easel to use

and their favorite brush or pastel.

Can you just imagine Edgar Degas with this

small little box of pastels at the Paris Opera!

Before Tube Paint

On a recent visit to the The Clark Art Institute in
Williamstown MA, the paintbox of English artist
John Constable (1776 – 1837) was on display.

Before collapsable metal tubes artists carried their

paints in tied bladders. I had read about this but never

seen a real artist paintbox in a museum, so I was intrigued.

This hinged tin box housed eleven bladders of pigment.
With our current artist discussions of using a limited

palette I wonder what his colors were.

Today John would have had to place this paintbox in his

checked luggage as I doubt it would make it through

airline security!