Degas and His Dance Class
Justin Jones
Art History 245
Prof. Kim de Beaumont
June 27, 2012
Degas and His Dance Class
Edgar Degas was born in Paris in 1834 to an upper middle class family. He started crafting his art early in his adolescent years by painting copies of works that were on display at the Louvre. Even though he passionately enjoyed painting and the arts his father expected him to go to law school. Therefore, Degas registered at the Faculty of Law of the University of Paris in November of 1853, but made very little effort. Soon after, he was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts and began to focus on what he was truly passionate about. While attending, he was guided by Louis Lamothe, an academic artist and pupil to Ingres and Flandrin, who helped him develop his technique. After his education, he moved to Italy for the span of a few years and developed his painting techniques even further by copying the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and various other Renaissance artists. By doing this, he became accomplished in techniques of high, academic and classical art.
Degas returned to Paris in 1859 and began to focus on making a name for himself as a respected artist by taking the traditional approach and painting portraits as well as historical scenes. Such works as The Daughter of Jephtha(1), Semiramis Building Babylon(2), and Scene of War in the Middle Ages(3) got him accepted into the Salon, with his first showing in 1865, but were received with little attention and with indifference. Eventually, he changed his focus and began to paint more contemporary subjects, which was primarily influenced by Édouard Manet whom he had met while painting copies at the Louvre in 1864.
Due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, Degas put his painting on hold and joined the National Guard. After the war, he left his life in Paris and started an extended stay in New Orleans, where his brother and various family members
Art History 245
Prof. Kim de Beaumont
June 27, 2012
Degas and His Dance Class
Edgar Degas was born in Paris in 1834 to an upper middle class family. He started crafting his art early in his adolescent years by painting copies of works that were on display at the Louvre. Even though he passionately enjoyed painting and the arts his father expected him to go to law school. Therefore, Degas registered at the Faculty of Law of the University of Paris in November of 1853, but made very little effort. Soon after, he was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts and began to focus on what he was truly passionate about. While attending, he was guided by Louis Lamothe, an academic artist and pupil to Ingres and Flandrin, who helped him develop his technique. After his education, he moved to Italy for the span of a few years and developed his painting techniques even further by copying the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and various other Renaissance artists. By doing this, he became accomplished in techniques of high, academic and classical art.
Degas returned to Paris in 1859 and began to focus on making a name for himself as a respected artist by taking the traditional approach and painting portraits as well as historical scenes. Such works as The Daughter of Jephtha(1), Semiramis Building Babylon(2), and Scene of War in the Middle Ages(3) got him accepted into the Salon, with his first showing in 1865, but were received with little attention and with indifference. Eventually, he changed his focus and began to paint more contemporary subjects, which was primarily influenced by Édouard Manet whom he had met while painting copies at the Louvre in 1864.
Due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, Degas put his painting on hold and joined the National Guard. After the war, he left his life in Paris and started an extended stay in New Orleans, where his brother and various family members