Edgar Degas was born in Paris, France into an aristocratic family of brokers and bankers. He studied law for a short time but soon abandoned it for a career in fine arts. After beginning his artistic studies with Louis Lamothes, a pupil of Ingres, he started classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts but left in 1854 and went to Italy. He stayed there for 5 years, studying Italian art, especially Renaissance works. Returning to Paris, he exhibited his paintings in all but one of the Impressionist exhibitions between 1874 and 1886. The art of Degas reflects a concern for the psychology of movement and expression and the harmony of line and continuity of contour. These characteristics set him apart from the other Impressionist painters. Degas was always concerned with the psychology of expression and movement, and the harmony of line and contour. Later in life he turned increasingly to sculpture, modeling figures - often dancers or horses - in wax over metal armatures. These sculptures later were cast in bronze. He found most of his themes at dance studios and racetracks.