The French painter’s five-month sojourn with his mother’s family.
Artist Edgar Degas was born in France but his mother was from New Orleans. On the occasion of Edgar’s birth, his father purchased a Creole cottage on Rampart Street in New Orleans and placed it in his son’s name, to link his oldest son to his mother’s home. The artist visited New Orleans in 1872 and, although he stayed only five months, he created 22 works of art during that time, including the painting above, of his uncle’s cotton brokerage firm. (Degas’ uncle, Michael Musson, and two of his brothers, Rene and Achille Degas, are shown in the painting.) Some say his full talent in the Impressionist genre didn’t emerge until his visit to New Orleans.
Celeste Musson Degas, Edgar’s mother, died when he was young, but Edgar’s maternal grandfather visited the family in Paris and Edgar maintained ties to his mother’s city through correspondence with his relatives there. In New Orleans (in 1872) Degas stayed five months and created 22 works of art during that time.
Degas’ time in New Orleans has given him special regard among the city’s residents. A 1999 exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art, “Degas and New Orleans: A French Impressionist in New Orleans,” drew 192,000 visitors – no small feat because it was on view during summertime, a traditionally slow season in New Orleans. Degas’ time in New Orleans also inspired a play, “Degas” by Rosary O’Neill; Degas Day festivals; and a new cocktail, Estelle’s Revenge, was served at the Degas House during the museum exhibition. Perhaps the greatest expression of civic love for the artist came in 1965 when local citizens contributed $190,000 (the equivalent of $1.47 million in 2017) to buy the Degas painting “Portrait of Estelle Musson DeGas” for the New Orleans Museum of Art
The Musson home (shown above) is where Degas lived during his time in the city. It is the only residence or studio in the world associated with the artist, that’s open to the public. Today it is both a bed and breakfast and the home of the Edgar Degas Foundation, dedicated to preserving the artist’s legacy. The house was constructed in 1852 and period furnishings are displayed and reproductions of Degas’ paintings hang on the walls. Guided tours are conducted by appointment. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some of the Degas’ Paintings he did while living in New Orleans.
The video above features some writings of Eggar Degas after he arrived in New Orleans. (Editor’s note: keep in mind these words are from c. 1873.)
Degas House Interiors
(Source: The Degas House website and “Degas in New Orleans” online. Artworks (if under copyright) are © by the respective owners, foundations or assignees. Images used here were for educational and editorial use only.)
