Prima Ballerina, Rosita Mauri by Edgar Degas

Prima Ballerina; Rosita Mauri, aka The Star (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 the performance. Rosita Mauri was a balet teacher and a dancer, she was the daughter of a balet master and choreographer. Rosita began her dancing career in 1865 and went on to became one of Europe’s prime 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 balet dance, and over half his works depict dancers.