A Living Link to Degas
At the historic Degas House on Esplanade Avenue, visitors not only step into the world of the famed French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas, they can also meet one of his descendants.
At 82 years old, the great-grandniece of Degas, Joan Prados, continues to share her family's rich history and heritage through guided tours at the Degas House almost every day. For the past 23 years, Prados has welcomed visitors into the historic home, creating a living connection between the Degas-Musson family legacy and the cultural history of New Orleans. "I knew I was related to Degas, but I couldn't tell you how I was related," said Prados, a native of New Orleans and a descendant of the Musson family.
Born in Paris in 1834, Degas traveled to New Orleans in 1872, staying with his maternal relatives, the Musson family, at what is now the Degas House. During this period, he produced 18 major works, several drawings, and five letters. "Degas was here for only four and a half months, from November 1872 to March of 1873," Prados noted. "He was fascinated by the city, but he couldn't work outside because his eyes were really bad. He would complain about the light and the glare."
While confined indoors, Degas turned his attention to intimate portraits of family members, especially his cousin and sister-in-law Estelle Musson, who was blind. "Estelle was married to René, Degas' brother," Prados said. "I think Estelle was a good role model for Degas. He was amazed at how well she coped with her blindness since he was having problems with his own eyesight."
However, even during his time in New Orleans, Degas completed few works. Prados noted that many of the paintings from this period remained unfinished, with one major exception being A Cotton Office in New Orleans. "His paintings are not really finished because he was working on them simultaneously," Prados emphasized.
As Prados explained, the Degas House was once her family home. She recounted that the Degas name was eventually replaced by Musson after Estelle's husband, René, abandoned the family for a neighbor, leaving behind five children and one from Estelle's previous marriage. Prados recalled, "My mother said her name would have been Degas, but my grandfather ran off with another woman." Following the separation, Estelle resumed using her maiden name, while her father, Michel Musson, adopted the grandchildren. Generations of the Musson family lived together in the Garden District home until Prados was 8 years old.
"We had Degas sculptures and pictures around the house, but it wasn't really important to me when I was growing up, even though I knew that it was part of our inheritance," Prados said.
After attending private schools and Fortier High School, Prados enrolled in college to study commercial art. "My mother thought I was going to be the artist of the family," Prados said. "When I was young, I had art classes and can remember doing a picture of a ballet dancer. My mother told my art teacher that I was related to Degas." Despite her early interest in art, Prados ultimately chose a different path. In 1965, she earned a degree in elementary education.
Prados began her teaching career at McGehee School, where she taught second grade for six years before spending two years teaching in Germany. After returning to New Orleans in 1974, she briefly worked as a city tour guide while continuing her career in elementary education with the Jefferson Parish public school system. From 1977 until her retirement in 2003, she remained a dedicated educator, concluding a 37-year teaching career.
Still, her interest in her family's history and its connection to the Degas House did not fully resonate with her until 1993 when David Villarrubia purchased and began restoring the historic home. "Now, the Degas House feels like home to me," Prados said. "I share stories that I know about my family and my background."
Following the renovations, the Degas House opened as a historic house museum and bed-and-breakfast in 1996. Today, the Degas House offers guest rooms featuring reproductions of Degas' New Orleans paintings. This landmark home also hosts weddings and special events, including the 2022 visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to New Orleans.
Recognized by its red marker, the Degas House is one of the 236 worldwide Maisons des Illustres and one of only two in the United States. "When the French President was here, we had a great crowd," David Villarubia, owner and founder of Degas House, said. "He stated that the Degas House is open to all visitors under the French flag."
Villarubia added that the Degas House hosts events year round in its grand parlors and picturesque courtyard, though Prados' history tours remain its biggest draw. "Everyone wants to see Joanie," Villarrubia said. "People are spellbound by her."
In addition to leading tours of the Degas House at 10:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., Prados spends her free time reading, walking, and playing mahjong. "I ran about six miles a day until I was 70," Prados remarked. "Now, I walk at least 15,000 steps a day."
Prados said the tours generally last about two hours and include her personal insight into the Degas-Musson family history. Over the years, local schools have also arranged guided tours at the historic home, which she often led alongside her sister Marie Estelle Moyer. "I feel very close to Degas House," Prados reflected. "I enjoy giving information to people who come here. It is important to keep it going. It is a part of my life."
