Prima Ballerina, Rosita Mauri by Edgar Degas Notebook

Prima Ballerina; Rosita Mauri, aka The Star (c 1876/1877) by Edgar Degas is a vintage impressionist fine art portrait painting featuring the ballerina Rosita Mauri. She is on the stage and taking a bow after a performance. Rosita Mauri was a ballet teacher and a dancer, she was the daughter of a ballet master and choreographer. Rosita began her dancing career in 1865 and went on to became one of Europe’s principal ballerinas. About the artist: Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he preferred realism and to be called a realist. Degas is especially identified with the subject of ballet dance, and over half his works depict dancers.