Degas House

Edgar Degas House in New Orleans, Louisiana

by Sherri Newton

Venture off the beaten path of the French Quarter in New Orleans and discover the Edgar Degas House. Whether you are just touring the Degas House or also plan on staying there for their beautiful bed and breakfast accommodations, it is well worth the five minute drive from New Orleans renowned French Quarter.

The Degas House was built in 1852 during the original development of the Esplanade Ridge Neighborhood. The house was originally one of the grandest in the neighborhood and including the grounds, occupied almost the entire block. However, as you see it now, the home it is split in two. The house was cut in half in the 1920s and one wing was moved twenty feet to the side and turned into two residences.

The house has many stories to tell. The most memorable is that Edgar Degas resided there from 1872 – 1873 with his maternal relatives, the Musson family. This is the only residence or studio of the “French Impressionist Master” open to the public anywhere in the world.

While Edgar Degas was there, he painted at least twenty two works of art including a very detailed scene of Michel Musson’s office at his cotton business (Portraits in an Office: The New Orleans Cotton Exchange, 1873, Musee des Beaux-Arts, Pau). This was the first painting of Degas ever purchased by a museum. This painting was so important because it marked the beginning of the Impressionism art movement.

As stated on their website, the “Degas Tour is designed to portray the life of the Artist during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War in his family home at 2306 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans.”

At the start of the tour, you watch an excellent video on the house and Edgar Degas. This really helps give a feel for the history and importance of Edgar Degas before going on the tour of the home and his studio. The home was beautifully restored. The main rooms and the bed and breakfast rooms you can rent were elegantly stunning. The tour was also given by a descendant related to Edgar Degas himself. Can’t get any more genuine than that!

This is one tour you don’t want to miss in New Orleans. Call to make your reservations and enjoy stepping back into time and experience the Edgar Degas House.

The Degas House is also available for meetings, events, weddings and other memorable events.

Click Here to View the Original Article

Exhibit Showcases Degas’ New Orleans Paintings

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans house where Impressionist painter Edgar Degas lived for a time is hosting an exhibit about his sojourn, including a larger-than-painted reproduction of the most important work he did in the city.

The house, now known as the Degas House, was owned by relatives of the artist’s mother and dates to the early 1850s. Degas was 38 and not yet famous when he arrived in 1872 in New Orleans, the city of his mother’s birth, after service in the Franco-Prussian War. He remained in New Orleans for 4 1/2 months.

The exhibit includes reproductions of eight of the 18 paintings he made in New Orleans, some photos of his hosts, Degas and the house; reproductions of letters he wrote home during that time; and other information about his life and work.

The reproductions include A Cotton Office in New Orleans, which was the first work by Degas to be bought by a museum. His host family, the Mussons, were in the cotton business, and the scene depicted the office where they worked. The reproduction is about 40 inches across, almost four inches wider than the original, which is owned by the Musee des Beaux Arts in Pau, France.

Click Here to View the Original Article

Impressionist History

September 1, 2009

French painter Edgar Degas also was a traveler. After his formative years in Paris, he spent time in Italy, visited friends in Normandy, and traveled to the New World for an extended stay in New Orleans. From 1872 to 1873, the painter resided with his maternal relatives, the Musson Family, whose business was cotton. While he resided in the house, Degas created at least 22 works of art (and sold one).

This home at 2306 Esplanade Ave. — 11 blocks from the French Quarter — is his only remaining studio that’s open to public tours. Today, it’s called the Degas House Historic Home, Courtyard & Inn and is available for tours, meetings, special events, and overnight stays. It’s watched over by the nonprofit Edgar Degas Foundation, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the French impressionist master and serving as a cultural resource center for the public.

Restoration on the Degas House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, began in the 1990s; the first phase was completed in 1997. The second phase of work is ongoing — and will include the replacement of the original wrought iron fence as shown in the architectural drawings from 1863, as well as work on the grounds and adjacent structures of the original estate.

Whether they visit for a few hours or a few days, groups can experience the elegance of a bygone era of New Orleans history. The guided tour was designed to portray the life of the artist during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War in his family home. Reproductions of Degas’ work, including family portraits, equestrian scenes, and ballerinas, hang on the walls, painted Parisian gold, Desiree’s deep red, and impressionist rose.

The hour-long experience, which is available by appointment, includes the chance to watch an award-winning documentary, Degas in New Orleans, a Creole Sojourn, and a visit to the gift shop.

This New Orleans estate has been hosting visitors since the 1850s; now, the courtyard, parlors, dining room, and other spaces are well-equipped for group functions.

The historic site recently hosted a 175th anniversary party in honor of the painter, complete with good food, good drinks, and good music. Attendees enjoyed a sneak peak of a special exhibit by the Edgar Degas Foundation and Louisiana State Museum. “Degas in New Orleans” is touring museums and libraries across the state.

The Degas House also serves as a bed-and-breakfast inn. The guestrooms, on the second and third floor, are named for members of the Musson-Degas family and feature hardwood floors and period furnishings. Each room is provided with a copy of the documentary film and the book Degas in New Orleans by Christopher Benfey.

Guests are treated to a Creole-style breakfast in the morning, as well as a guided house tour, private baths, wireless Internet, and free local calls. Some of the suites have balconies and jacuzzi tubs. Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Click Here to View the Original Article