From 1854-1860 Edgar went to live in Naples, Italy with his uncle where he studied and traveled. He went to Rome and copied the frescoes of the artist Michaelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. He also visited Florence, Viterbo, Orvieto and Venice. He returned to Paris in 1861 where he worked as a copyist (a painter who copies the works of others) at the Louvre Museum. There he met another impressionist, Edouard Manet. In 1870 when war broke out, Edgar joined the National Guard and was under the command of Henri Rouart, an art collecter and painter, who became one of his best friends. The letter Britt Henderson reads in the New Orleans museum refers to Manet, who was then back in Paris.

In 1872, Degas left Paris to visit New Orleans, where his family had an important cotton business. He returned to Paris a year later. His painting made there, Portraits in an Office: The Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, was later bought by the Musee de Pau.

During the many stages of his career, Degas always returned to the theme of ballerinas: at rest, at work and on stage. Other favorite subjects were musicians, landscapes and horses. He constantly experimented with many art media: pastel, crayon, oil paint, sculpture, even photography.

Special permission is required to broadcast works of art and some paintings were not cleared for broadcast at production time. Look for reproductions of the paintings in books on Degas.

The Degas House is located on the corner of Esplanade and Tonti in New Orleans. The home's current owner was in the midst of renovations at the time "State of Art" was taped, but plans to reopen the home for tours upon completion.