Important People in Degas' Life

Auguste de Gas

Degas’ father.  Built the Paris branch of the Bank in Naples. 

Célestine Musson Degas

Degas’ mother an American of Creole descent from a prominent family in New Orleans moved to Paris with her four siblings following the death of her mother.  She married Auguste de Gas in 1832 at the age of eighteen.  She had five children while living in Paris and Naples.  She died when Degas was only 13 years old.

Edouard Manet

An avant-garde artist who became friends with Degas while Degas was in the Louvre.  Manet had an influence on Degas’ work toward the budding Impressionism movement and introduced him to his cast circle of friends.  Manet died in 1883 leading Degas to almost completely isolate himself. 

Édouard Valpinçon

Paul Valpinçon’s father and friend of Degas’ father.  He was an art collector and played a role in Degas’ artistic development when took Degas to visit painter Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres.

Germain Musson

Degas maternal grandfather whom he was named after.  A New Orleans merchant who fled his native Haiti.  He made his fortune in Louisiana cotton and Mexican silver.  When Degas’ maternal grandmother died, Germain took his children to be educated in France. 

Gustave Moreau

A friend of Degas, a French symbolist painter who worked and studied with Degas between 1857 and 1859 in Florence and Rome.

Hilaire de Gas

Degas grandfather whom he was named after.  He left Paris during the French Revolution and established himself as a banker in Naples, Italy.

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

A neo-classical artist who had a lasting impression on Degas.  He taught him to “follow the lines”.

Louis Lamothe

A French academic artist who was one Degas’ primary art teachers.  He introduced Degas to the style of Ingres. 

Ludovic Halévy

Degas’ friend, a French author and playwright of Jewish ancestry whom Degas later parted ways from because of his anti-Semitism stance taken in 1897.

Paul Durand-Ruel

Degas’ principal art dealer in the 1880s.  Held exhibitions of Impressionism and other works at his galleries. 

Paul Valpinçon

Degas’ lifelong friend.