Portrait of Degas in Florence

Gustave Moreau drew this portrait of the young Edgar Degas in Florence during 1858-1859, documenting a friendship that would prove significant for both artists. The two had met in Rome in early 1858 and reconnected in Florence later that year. Together they visited Siena and Pisa in March 1859.

Moreau became something of a mentor to the younger Degas during their Italian travels. Before Christmas 1858, they explored the Uffizi together, with Degas eager to show Moreau Botticelli's "Primavera." Moreau, however, preferred the "Birth of Venus" and made a small copy of it. Each artist created at least one portrait of the other during this period.

The drawing is now held at the Musee National Gustave Moreau in Paris. Their friendship later cooled as Degas embraced Impressionism while Moreau pursued Symbolist history painting. "You pretend to renew art through ballet?" Moreau once asked. "And you think you will do it by jewelry?" Degas replied.