Portrait of Therese Degas by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas's Portrait of Thérèse Degas (1863) reflects the admiration that he developed for presenting images precisely as they were while a pupil of Louis Lemothe. The depth of Degas's own skill can be seen in his early portraiture, in which he renders accurate likenesses of his family members. Here he presents his sister Thérèse. Her shawl suggests that she is prepared for a stroll outdoors; in fact, this is an engagement portrait, and her costume may hint to her impending departure from the family home.

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas's Portrait of Thérèse Degas is an oil on canvas (35 x 26-3/8 inches), which can be seen at Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

To present activity accurately was a new challenge that Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas took on when he started painting racecourse scenes like Horses Before the Stands, found on the next page.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet