Degas' interest in horseracing subjects began around 1862. At this time he was breaking away from historical subjects and specialising in scenes from everyday life in cafes, in ballet and circus scenes. His work as a sculptor developed later in his career, when failing eyesight kept him in the studio close to his models.
Degas spent most of his life in Paris, giving up his law studies to work with Louis Lamothe. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts before visiting Italy. Much of his formative years were spent studying Classical works in the Louvre in Paris and in Rome.
Heástopped exhibiting at the Salon in 1870 and his work took a different direction after meeting Monet and fellow artists in the Louvre and in the Cafe Guerbois. In 1874 he exhibited in the First Impressionist Exhibition.
