1834 Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas is born in Paris on July 19th. His father, a banker, is knowledgeable about music and painting. "Self Portrait," 1855 1847 Degas' mother dies. 1853 Graduates from the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Briefly attends law school; with his father's support, he immerses himself in artistic studies. 1855 Taken by Édouard Valpinçon, an art collector, to visit his idol, the famous French classicist painter, Jean-Auguste-Dominque Ingres. Admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studies with Louis Lamothe, a disciple of Ingres. Develops the formidable drawing skills for which he becomes famous. 1856 Embarks on a three-year trip to Italy to study the Old Masters. 1859 Returns to Paris and moves into his first studio; remains there throughout the 1860s, initially concentrating on portraits and historical and biblical subjects. Produces his first pictures of horses in landscapes. 1865 Exhibits at the state-sponsored Paris Salon for the first time. "Portrait of Madame Gaujelin," 1867 1867 A former ballerina, Joséphine Gaujelin, poses for several studies and for a painted portrait shown at the Salon of 1869. 1868 Frequents the Café Guerbois, where a group of innovative artists, writers, and musicians gather. Manet, Cézanne, Renoir, and Pissarro are among the painters often present. His first painting of dancers, "Portrait of Mlle Fiocre in the Ballet 'La Source'" is shown at the Salon. Like Degas' other submissions, it receives little critical attention. "Portrait of Mlle Fiocre in the Ballet 'La Source'"