Edgar Degas

Painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917), a banker's son born in Paris, was 21 before he was permitted to begin studying art. A year later, in Italy, he studied Middle Ages and renaissance art, painting classical historical works. Meeting Manet, and overwhelmed by Impressionism, Degas began sketching from life and finishing works in his studio, trying to capture the essence of movement. Degas worked in oils, watercolours and pastels, in charcoal, pencil, and gouache, and in all media his skilled draughtsmanship makes his subjects seem alive.