Edgar Degas was born on July 19, 1834 in Paris, France. His full name was Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas. Coming from a wealthy family, Degas was initially intended to practice law, which he studied for a time after completing high school. In 1855, however, he enrolled at the famous École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Louis Lamothe, a student of the classical painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. In order to complete his art studies, Degas traveled extensively, including trips to Naples, Florence and Rome (where he lived for three years), so he could observe and copy the works of Renaissance masters like Sandro Botticelli, Andrea Mantegna and Nicolas Poussin. From his early days, Degas learned much about figure drawing, a skill he used to create impressive family portraits before 1860, including La Famille Belleli (1859). In 1861, Degas returned to Paris, where he produced several “historical portraits”. "Paintings", or works with historical or biblical themes, which were then the favorite paintings of serious patrons and in particular of the prestigious public art exhibition, the Salon, which was held annually in Paris. He also began copying works by the old masters of the Louvre, something he would continue to do for many years. With his historical paintings (including Jephthah's Daughter from 1861, based on an incident from the Old Testament) and his finely crafted portraits of friends, family and clients, the young Degas quickly established a reputation for great reputation in French artistic circles and never suffered from the financial problems which overwhelmed many of his colleagues. Soon, however, Degas began to shift his attention from historical painting to depictions of life in contemporary Paris. By 1862 he had begun painting various scenes of the racecourse, including studies of the horses, their mounts and the posh spectators. Degas's style after the early 1860s was influenced by the emerging Impressionist movement, notably by his friendship with Édouard Manet, as well as his introduction to Japanese graphic art, with its striking depiction of figures. Alongside his work painting racing scenes, Degas began to focus on group portraits, notably of ballet dancers, which became Degas's most famous subjects. Degas served in the artillery division of the French National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War. from 1870-1871. On his return, he worked on even more ambitious studies of groups, often in movement, both indoors and outdoors...