? A comprehensive new reference book on the life and works of the influential impressionist artist, Edgar Degas, acknowledged as one of the greatest masters of all time ? Offers a fascinating account of the artist's life, education, artistic influences and legacy, set in context of the turbulent social and political times in which he lived ? Features an extensive gallery of pastels, drawings, oil paintings, sketches and sculptures set in chronological order of completion and accompanied by an analysis of the style and content of each work ? Lavishly illustrated with 500 photographs, which include all of Degas? most well-known and much loved images, including ballet dancers, bathers, horse-racing scenes, café concerts, landscapes and portraits This sumptuous and informative new book provides a detailed exploration of Degas? life and the times in which he lived, as well as featuring a gallery of 300 of his best known and most loved works, including oil paintings, sketches, drawings, pastels, monoprints and sculptures. The first section provides a narrative to his life, the influences that shaped his work, the themes that fascinated him and the development of his style.The second section contains images of ballet dancers, bathers, cafés, café concerts and scenes of horse-racing for which Degas is famed: subjects that depicted the lifestyles of the haute bourgeoisie as well as working class Parisians. About the Author Jon Kear is a lecturer in History and Philosophy of Art at the University of Kent. He has published widely on 19th and 20th-century European art, photography and film, with an emphasis on French culture, and also worked as a curator on several exhibitions. His specialisms include 19th-century French painting and the relationship between art and cinema. His published books include: Impressionism (2008) and Spectres of Painting: French Prints in the 19th Century (2007).