1882-84 London impressionist expos

 

 

Impressionism, a historical reconstruction:

Meta-Impressionism / other exhibitions:

1882 – 84 London

Impressionist expositions

 

Durand-Ruel the promotor of Impressionism:
In 1882 +1883 +1884 there were expositions held in London that were called “impressionist“. The works at these expositions were loans by the art-dealer Durand-Ruel. So, it was Durand-Ruel who promoted the term “impressionist”, while the well known so-called 8 ‘impressionist’ expositions in Paris from 1874-86 were officially never called that way*. In 1886 in New York Durand-Ruel would introduce this term in the USA.

In 1882 there was an “Exposition impressionniste organisée par Durand-Ruel” at 13, King Street, St. James (R22IV,p1016) in the Langham Hotel (R166,p293), also called “exhibition of impressionists paintings lent by Durand-Ruel” (R31,p315).

In 1883 there was a small exhibition at the gallery of Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, New Bond Street 133 in London. It was called “Paintings, drawings and pastels by Members of La Société des impressionnistes“.

In 1884 there was an exhibition at the Egyptian Hall of the Dudley Gallery in Piccadilly that was called “Exposition de tableaux impressionnistes appartenant à Durand-Ruel”.
Note*: In that way it is strange that the 7th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1882, in which Durand-Ruel had a huge influence, was called “independant” instead of “impressionist”.

On this page you will find an impression of the works that were shown at these 3 expositions. At the bottom of this page you will find more info and an account. I render the works alphabetically on the name of the artist and then chronologically on when it was first exhibited. Note: If you double click on the first picture and then click on full screen, you can create a slideshow. On a smartphone or laptop you can also zoom in. Enjoy!

 

1882, London, Langham Hotel, impressionist paintings:
In the Summer of 1882 (in June and July*) there was an “Exposition impressionniste organisée par Durand-Ruel” (=London-EI-1882). It is also called “exhibition of impressionists paintings lent by Durand-Ruel” (R31,p315) and ‘Exposition Durand-Ruel’ (R166,p293). The location is unclear and maybe there were two seperate exhibitions (R166,p268). One location given is 13, King Street at St. James. The other location is the Langham Hotel, Regent Street.
Partakers were Cassatt, Degas, Monet (4x), Renoir and Sisley (7x) and (posthumous) also Delacroix and Jean-François Millet. Probably there were no works of Pissarro exhibited (R116I,p176+362). Sources on Renoir affirm his participation, but don’t suggest which works were shown (R31,p301+315). A source on Sisley mentions it included 7 paintings of Sisley (R166,p39+268), another source omits this exhibition (R396,p528).
The exhibition received a positive review in the (Evening) Standard (1882/07/01), the anonymous critic wrote that Impressionism “aims generally to record what the eye sees, and not what the mind knows the eye ought to see…” (R2,p382+391).
Note*: Denvir writes the opening was the 5th of May (R5,p129).
Sources: R166,p39+51,note40+268+293; R22IV,p1016.

1883, London, Dowdeswell & Dowdeswell, Society of Impressionists:
1883/04/15 (20) – 07/20: a small exhibition at the gallery of Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, New Bond Street 133 in London. It was called “Paintings, drawings and pastels by Members of La Société des impressionnistes*“. It was co-organised by Durand-Ruel. It comprised 82 paintings (R166,p52/note57) or 65 Impressionist works (R116I,no179); pages from the catalogue indicate that at least 61 art-works were shown and at least number 55 onwards were drawings and pastels (iR466).
In a letter to Monet (1883/06/12) Pissarro critically mentions that their canvases were stacked up in a room. The paintings were put in white frames (R116I,p180).
Partakers were Boudin, Cassatt (2x), Degas (7x), Manet (3x), Monet (6x), Morisot (3x), Pissarro (8x paintings; 2x watercolours; 1x gouache), Renoir (8 or 10x) and Sisley (8x; all landscapes from the surroundings of Saint-Mammès).
Catalogue: 3 pages (iR466); available at the National Art Library, London, pressmark: 200.B.146. (see; iR275=M56; iR478)
Note*: In sources on Impressionism I read nothing about the formation of the ‘Société des impressionnistes’, nor about Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley or others becoming members. Was it an official society or more a working title?

1884, London, Dudley Gallery, tableaux impressionnistes:
In May and June (in the Spring) 1884 at the Egyptian Hall of the Dudley Gallery in Piccadilly there was an exhibition held that was called “Exposition de tableaux impressionnistes appartenant à Durand-Ruel*“. So the works were lent by Durand-Ruel. Caroline Durand-Ruel Godfroy writes about 24 paintings, including 12 of Sisley (R166,p42+270), but probably it were more.
Among them were works of Monet (5x), Pissarro (9x), Sisley (12x; asking prices between 1000 and 1.500fr; none were sold).
Note*: Probably it is also called “An exhibition of pictures and sculptures, by a group of artists of the French school.” (R396,p528)

Account:
On this page I render the suggestions done by my sources. See link for Sisley.

Monet:
London-EI-1882-?1, =? CR290
=? 2IE-1876-148 =London-SdI-1883-16 (Le Petit Bras à Argenteuil) =DR1883-7 or 50 (solo expo) =London-ETI-1884 =NY-AAG-1886-282 (Petit bras d’Argenteuil). Bought by Durand-Ruel from Oudard in 1882 and sold in 1886.
London-EI-1882-?2, = CR722 =Tours-1882 =Boston-1883-13. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1882/04 and sold in 1906.
London-EI-1882-?3, =? CR731 =GP-EIP-1885-69. Bought by Durand-Ruel (probably) 1882/04 and sold to Georges Petit in 1883.
London-EI-1882-?4, =? CR734 =DR1883-3 or 27 (solo expo). Bought by Durand-Ruel 1882/04.

London-SdI-1883-16, Le Petit Bras à Argenteuil
=CR290 =NY-AAG-1886-282 =? 2IE-1876-148 =?London-IE-1882 =DR1883-7 or 50 (solo expo) =London-ETI-1884.
Sources: R22IV,p1016+CR290+751+758+762;R116I,p362+CCP627+649+?654+661+662+671+?699.

London-EtI-1884-?1, =CR284
London-EtI-1884-?2, =? CR290
=? 2IE-1876-148 =London-EI-1882 =London-SdI-1883-16 (Le Petit Bras à Argenteuil) =DR1883-7 or 50 (solo expo) =NY-AAG-1886-282 (Petit bras d’Argenteuil).
London-EtI-1884-?3, =? CR722
London-EtI-1884-?4, =CR821
London-EtI-1884-?5, =CR828

Pissarro:
London-SdI-1883-5, =CCP662 =7IE-1882-111 =DR1892-16 (solo-expo). Bought by Durand-Ruel 1881/12/19, sold to Georges Petit 1883/08/09, bought back 1891/04/17.
London-SdI-1883-9 =CCP649 =7IE-1882-117 =DR1888-78 =DR1892-12. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1881/05/04, sold 1944/04/07.
London-SdI-1883-24 =CCP661 =7IE-1882-118 =Sint-Petersbourg-1899-277. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1881/08/04, sold 1963/07/08.
London-SdI-1883-25 =? CCP699 =?DR1883-32 =London-1892. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1883/04/25, sold 1890/12/11 to Coquelin.
London-SdI-1883-27 =?CCP654 =7IE-1882-103. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1882/03/02, sold to Georges Petit 1883/08/09.
London-SdI-1883-28 =CCP627 =5IE-1880-130 =DR1904-59. Provenance: Durand-Ruel (1881/01/14), Georges Petit (1883/04/24), Gérin (1904ca).
London-SdI-1883-29 =CCP671 =7IE-1882-112. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1882/02/01, sold to Georges Petit 1883/08/09.
London-SdI-1883-62, La Moisson =? 7IE-1882-113, La Moisson =?? CCP464 =DR1888-75 =Brussels-1889 =6XX-1889-1. Bought by Durand-Ruel 1888/05/24, sold 1890/10/04.
London-SdI-1883-? = Peasant woman at the Val Hermé, watercolour (R116I,p180).
London-SdI-1883-? = St. Martin’s fair, watercolour (R116I,p180).
London-SdI-1883-? = The wood-cutter, gouache (R116I,p180).
Sources: R116,CCP??464 +627 +649 +?654 +661 +662 671 +?699.

London-EtI-1884-?1, =CCP643
London-EtI-1884-?2, =CCP656
London-EtI-1884-?3, =CCP665
London-EtI-1884-?4, Maison du passeur
London-EtI-1884-?5, Jeune femme assise
London-EtI-1884-?6, L’Ermitage de Pontoise
London-EtI-1884-?7, Effet de neige.
London-EtI-1884-?8, L’Oise à Pontoise.
London-EtI-1884-?9, ??

 

Sources:
I couldn’t find the auction catalogues. My main sources are the Catalogue Raisonné on Monet (Wildenstein, 1996=R22I,p117); the 2nd Catalogue Raisonné on Morisot (Clairet, 1997=R186); catalogues on Renoir: Raeburn (1985=R31); Dony / Brown (R30=Fezzi, 1972=R193); Fezzi (1985=R190); Ehrlich White (1984=R430); Bailey (2007=R460); catalogues on Sisley: the Critical Catalogue (2021=R396); Stevens (1992=R166).
Sources 1882: R5,p129/130;R22IV,p1016;R31,p301+315;R2,p382;R166,p293+p52,note57.
Sources 1883: R5,p134/5;R31,p315;R42,p92;R312,p36;R166,p42+52/note57+114; R396.
Sources 1884:R22IV,p1016;R116I,p362;R53,p141;R166,p42+52,note61; R396.
Other sources are: .
For other general references (=R) see. For other references to internet sites (=iR) see. For other additional references (=aR) see below. See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.

 

Further readings:
x

Additional references (=aRx):

  1. x

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism, other expositions: 1882-84 “impressionist” expositions in London. Last modified 2025/05/06. https://www.impressionism.nl/1882-84-london-impressionist-expos/”

Note: additional info and pictures will follow.