The Villa Medicis (1885-1887)

After winning the Prix de Rome, Debussy was invited to attend classes at the Villa Medicis. Despite attending school with friends from the Conservatoire, Debussy's days were still unhappy. Through numerous letters to Marie Vasnier, Debussy found himself complaining about things such as "boring company" and "bad food".

Eventually, Debussy found himself fitting in and becoming one of the centers of the socialites.

Halfway through school, though, Debussy took a two month leave to stay in Dieppe with Marie without her husbands, Henry Vasnier's, knowledge.