“Louisiana must be respected by all her children,…and I am almost one of them.”
~Edgar Degas to Henri Rouart, 1872
For a unique experience in New Orleans, consider visiting the Degas House, the former Musson-De Gas family residence. It was here that Edgar Degas, reportedly the only French Impressionist to live and work in the United States, stayed during a brief visit with his mother’s family. And it’s here where you get to know a little about this world-renowned artist and his time in New Orleans.
Edgar Degas was 38 years old and suffering from difficulties with his eyesight when he arrived in New Orleans in 1872. His visit here would last five months and result in a series of 18 paintings now referred to as his New Orleans Collection.
Designated a Historic House Museum, the Degas House dates to the mid-19th century when it was built as a single mansion; the private residence of architect and developer Benjamin Rodriguez. Consisting now of two separate buildings, the Degas House prides itself on being the only home or studio of Edgar Degas open to the public. And though serving as a Bed & Breakfast, tours of the home are available.
Your tour begins, in the secondary house, with a short film about Degas, his family, and the events occurring in New Orleans at the time of his visit. You’ll also see a timeline of the artist’s life,
and a model of the original residence, as well as some furnishings original to the Musson family home.
The tour continues to the main house, where you’ll walk through the ground level sitting rooms before making your way upstairs.
On the second floor, you’ll step out onto the gallery to see where Degas sat with his cousin Mathilde Musson to paint Woman Seated on a Balcony.
From here, continue to the Josephine Room where it’s believed he painted The Pedicure (Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France).
Once the tour of the Main House is complete, you’ll return to the secondary house to visit Degas’ bedroom (a replica) and the Museum Gift Shop.
It’s worth noting that the tour of this elegant 19th century residence is less about the house itself, and more about the story of Degas and his time in New Orleans. The house is the backdrop for this story, and what you’re really paying for is a chance to see where he painted his New Orleans Collection.
This was a really enjoyable tour. The price, however, is not cheap. Despite this, we highly recommend the Degas House as a stop during your visit to New Orleans, especially for fans of art history, the works of Edgar Degas, and the French Impressionist movement.
Other works in Degas’ New Orleans Collection include:
Madame René de Gas, 1872/1873 – National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Portrait of Estelle Musson Degas Arranging Flowers, 1872 – New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana
A Cotton Office in New Orleans, 1873 – Museé des Beaux Arts de Pau, Pau, France
Cotton Merchants in New Orleans, 1873 – Fogg Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Song Rehearsal, 1872/1873 – Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C.
Getting there:
The Edgar Degas House is located at 2306 Esplanade Avenue, north of the French Quarter. The easiest way to get there is by taxi (Fare = ~$9.00 from French Quarter). A cheaper alternative is public transit (RTA Bus 91: Rampart & St Ann to Esplanade & N Tonti). We DO NOT recommend walking to the Degas House.
Ticket Info:
Degas House Tour = $29.00
Degas House Tour + Creole Breakfast = $50.00
Travel tips:
The easiest way to get there is by taxi.
If you choose the tour + breakfast option, we highly recommend the Bananas Foster Pain Perdu (French toast topped with caramelized bananas).
Summary
Reviewer
Mike Young
Review Date
Reviewed Item
Degas House
Author Rating
Can’t believe I didn’t know about the Degas House when we were in New Orleans. Just means another visit is in order, I think – we’ve been wanting to see more of this unusual American city anyway.
Hi Sophie, We hope you get another chance to do more exploring in New Orleans. It is unusual, but very colorful and rich in culture 🙂