EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT OIL PAINTINGS
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                           by Edgar Degas 

             LaGare Collections,  establishing the extraordinary

           "Son of Louisiana"

 A highly important 1865 detailed portrait, and a part of a long list of self-portraits produced by the artist. A Realist and History Painter is how Edgar began his career, and really what he wanted to be known for, till he started to lose his eyesight, a time he became the lead Impressionist. And this portrait is his most important painting produced over the extended period, a time Edgar had a benefactor, a well-established banker from Paris, his Italian father.

   After the death of Edgar's mother, he and his father devoted their lives to accumulating art, trailing the extraordinary as Edgar traveled the world. From Paris, to Naples, Italy, and eventually a villa at Saint-Valry-sur-Some, an

 ancient port where ships filled with goods would soon leave for America. And America is another place where Edgar set up a studio, often painting multi-family portraits at his uncle's New Orleans home. Edgar's extraordinary life was overwhelmingly encouraged by his family, as he continued to harbor some of the world's most important       'Art   for   Art's   Sake.'                                        Zoom in to see 'The Mona Lisa Smile.'