Born on July 19, 1834, Edgar Degas was born as Hilaire Germain Edgar De Gas but changed his surname to Degas when he was older. His parents were from different countries, notably New Orleans and America. He enjoyed art from an early age and wanted to pursue studies in it after he turned 18. His father encouraged him to study Law, of which he enrolled in 1853, but in 1855 he started studying at École des Beaux-Arts. He studied Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’ art style under Louis Lamothe. Degas traveled to Italy during his twenties as well as stayed with his brother, René, in New Orleans from 1872 to 1873. He lived and died in Paris in 1917.