Diego Martelli 1879

Edgar Degas's "Diego Martelli" (1879) is a portrait of the Italian art critic Diego Martelli, a close friend of Degas. The painting captures Martelli in a relaxed, almost introspective pose, sitting on a chair with his arms crossed. The composition is simple, with Martelli filling the left half of the canvas, while the right side depicts a blue sofa and a table with papers, creating a sense of intimacy and isolation. This work, now housed in the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, exemplifies Degas's signature style, emphasizing the subject's individual character through a realistic yet somewhat detached approach, typical of Impressionism.