July 19, 1834 CE – Birth of Edgar Degas
*Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons In the capital of France, Augustin and Celestine De Gas welcomed a young boy on July 19, 1834 – their first child and, eventually, one of the most famous painters in the nation’s considerable artistic history. Known for his attention to detail and distinct skill with both paint and ink, most consider Edgar Degas one of the founders of the Impressionist movement in the latter half of the 19th century. Degas entered the Lycee Louis-le-Grand at the age of eleven. A capable student, Degas had learned to lean upon his father and grandfather for support after the death of his mother in 1847. When he graduated in 1853 after studying literature, he registered as a copyist at the Louvre – much to his father’s dismay. Having risen to moderate wealth as a banker, Augustin wished to see his son enter the legal profession. Though Edgar did end up entering the University of Paris in November of 1853, he generally ignored his law classes in favor of painting and drawing. April of 1855 saw him gain entry to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, one of the best-regarded art schools in all of Europe. Working under Louis Lamothe and consulting with his mentor Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Degas quickly improved at both painting and drawing.