The painting was part of the original collection of Eduard Chardon, the museum’s benefactor who donated his home Rapallo House and collection to the town. The trustees work hard to create income to make the collection available to the public.
The museum recently discovered a catalogue record from 1932 in it’s archives written by Isaac J Williams, Keeper of Art at National Museum of Wales, who described the watercolour (and a second the museum owns) as follows: “Many… are by distinguished artists with whom the owner of Rapallo House came into personal contact either at home or abroad. Such is the explanation of the presence of two freely executed drawings by the eminent French painter, Edgar Degas.”
Cllr Dr Rob Atenstaedt, who is Llandudno Town Council’s representative to the museum and who has been researching the painting said: “It’s a bit like a detective story really. Is the painting a real Degas, made by one of the greatest French impressionists, or simply an old copy?
“So far my research points more to the latter, but an expert committee of the Wildenstein Plattner Institute will make a final determination on the ‘Llandudno Degas’ when it meets later this year.
“Chardon was a wealthy individual and could have easily have afforded to buy a genuine Degas at the the time.
“I do find it difficult to believe that he would have purchased a copy.
“When the museum reopens in February I do hope that people come to take a look and make up their own mind on the painting.”
The well executed watercolour is in a gold frame at the museum.
Eduard Chardon, who lived in Rapallo House in Llandudno, was of French extraction and studied painting in France and Naples. When he died in 1925, he bequeathed his house and it’s contents to the town; his possessions now form the core collection of the town’s museum.
Edgar Degas, who lived from 1834 to 1917, was a famous French artist who was one of the founders of Impressionism.
Llandudno Museum reopens on February 17 and is offering free admission until February 21.