In Feigenbaum’s book Degas in New Orleans, he titles the first chapter “Edgar Degas, Almost a Son of New Orleans” (Feigenbaum 3). While the very title suggests the interconnection between French-Creole Louisiana and France, Degas was the only French Impressionist to travel to the United States. More so than a guest, New Oleanders consider him to be part of their southern family.
In the spirit of preserving the legacy of the Impressionist painter in New Orleans, therefore, the Degas Foundation was founded in 1995. It seeks to educate the public about Degas in New Orleans, and indeed, their documentary Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn received the Gold Award at the Flagstaff International Film Festival. The Degas Foundation also restored the Degas House – in which Degas lived and worked in his five month sojourn to New Orleans – with help from the Louisiana Preservation Alliance, thus showcasing the importance of Degas’ legacy not only to singular historic foundations but also to the city (and the state) as a whole.
New Orleanians take pride in that visitors to New Orleans have the opportunity to stay in the Degas House, which was is now a charming B&B: it is, in fact, the only Degas home in the world open to the public. Each of the lavish rooms in the Degas House is named for family members — Estelle, Desirée, Josephine, Pierre & Jeanne, etc - and each room has its own personality. Large, framed reproductions of Degas’ work, moreover, are visible all over the house, among these the Portrait of Mme. René De Gas, née Estelle Musson. Since the house is owned by the Degas Foundation, profit from the B&B supports restoration efforts: tours of the house and the neighborhood, furthermore, are by appointment and for a small donation. In the spirit of educating the public about Degas' stay in New Orleans, moreover, children often frequent the Degas House on school fieldtrips.