The gallery approached the museum about the artwork as The Daredevils is emblematic of the impact of Degas’s work Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando on artists in Britain.
“The painting is hanging in the closing section of the exhibition, which focuses on [circus artist] Miss La La’s afterlife,” a HMAG spokesperson said.
The Daredevils portrays three trapeze artists seen from below.
Lessore’s husband, Walter Sickert, described Degas as “the one great French painter, perhaps one of the greatest artists the world has ever seen”.
He said his wife’s painting shows how familiar she was with Degas’ work.