Friday, April 4, 2014

D is for Edgar Degas

Self -Portrait in a Soft Hat, 1857  (23 years old)  
Edgar Degas, was born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, July 19, 1834, in Paris, the oldest of five children. He changed his name to Degas, during the 1870's.  His mother was American from New Orleans, his father a French banker.  His father introduced him to the world of museums, galleries, and art exhibits during his younger years.

His father wanted him to study law, but after several months, he decided that law was not for him but art was, and began what would be called difficult training in classic art in Italy and then France where he studied at the Louvre. At first he painted and studied and copied the 15th and 16th century masters, but then evolved his style, a classic painter of modern life.  Not only did he paint in various mediums, he sculpted.  Renoir called Degas, "the world's greatest living sculptor," even though he only exhibited one sculpture during his lifetime. After his death, his sculptures were cast in bronze.

His long career, over 60 years, showed differences in style and approach, although, he always sketched his subjects first and then finished in his studio, sometimes painting his works over and over again until he was satisfied.  He did not consider himself an impressionist although his work is classified as such, because he did not paint 'Plein Air" (outside) like his fellow impressionist artists. "No art was less spontaneous than mine.  What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing."

In 1873, Degas learned that his brother Rene had incurred huge business debts.  Degas sold his house and his extensive personal art collection of other artists, to pay off his brother's debts and save his family's reputation.  For the first time in his life he had to depend on the sale of his paintings. His greatest artistic decade was in the 1870's, perhaps due to the pressure, but what a treasure for all of us to enjoy all these years later.


Becoming more and more isolated in his later years, due to loss of eyesight and his belief that artists should not have a personal life, he became more reclusive and died in 1917.

( Dover Publications, Inc.  Mineola, New York and Wikipedia)

8 comments:

  1. Selling his art work and his dwelling to save a brother is something we don't hear about in today's time. I don't think it is fair that artists should not enjoy their persona lives. I wished that he did not believe that notion cause he could have been happier.

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    1. To do things well takes time, and the genius's among us usually devote almost all their time to their passion. My guess that when Degas was painting, he was happy

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  2. Hi Tasha .. what fascinated me was his name and his father's profession .. seems to remind me of someone I know rather well!

    But also more importantly - your post could be an ideal description of how to be an author, a blogger ... start small, learn hard, progress on as well as one can ... and yes, perhaps his brother's debts did release a huge amount of work for us to enjoy ...

    Poor chap going blind as he aged - must have been difficult .. but how very interesting about his life and American mother, French father .. loved it and finding out more about Monsieur Hilaire ... Degas ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I do like the name Hilaire. He was born with an aristocratic back ground, I suppose Degas was easier to say. There was so much more to write, but I tried to keep it simple. Thanks for the visit Hilary, despite your being very, very busy with the challenge.

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  3. I've just added your blog to the list of those I'm following this year. Brillant post.

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  4. Thanks, WW, I do like your "pen name"--Wicked Writer could mean so many things.

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  5. Didn't know any of this about Degas or De Gas. Very interesting blog Tasha.

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