Meta Impressionism
L’Institut / L’Académie
and it’s members
1855 – 1900
Introduction:
For several ‘impressionists’ L’Institut (also mentioned L’Académie) was the symbol of conservative policies and teachings of art. The members of ‘L’Institut’ were and were also called ‘Académiciens’ and often professors at the École des Beaux-Arts. They often were member of the jury of the Salon and the Expositions Universelle. Who were these members that had so much influence on the art-world between 1855-1900?
L’Académie des Beaux-Arts was part of l’Institut:
L’Institut de France was founded in 1795. The Institut de France is located in the building with the Dome, near the Pont des Arts; compare the pictures of Renoir↑, Raffaëlli↑, Lebourg↓ and Pissarro↓. It was (is) a governmental institution under the direction of the Minister of ‘Beaux-Arts’*.
L’Institut consists of 5 academies who all have subdivided sections. The Académie des Beaux-Arts was just one of these 5 academies. The Académie des Beaux-Arts (founded in 1816) consisted of the folowing sections: the Académie de peinture et de sculpture, the Académie de musique (since 1669) and the Académie d’architecture (since 1671). The Académie des Beaux-Arts provided education of free artists, that no longer were attached to guilds.
The École des Beaux-Arts became around 1816 part of ‘L’Institut de France’. Since 1863/11/13, by imperial decree, the Académie lost control of the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie de France in Rome. The government now appointed the employee’s. Still, the teachers from the École were mostly members of L’Académie. Already in 1830 the Académie had lost privileges, but received them again in 1853 (R59,p182).
L’Institut is also indicated as ‘L’Académie’ and many sources don’t clearly discern with the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Neither did the Impressionists in their days.
In the period from 1855-1900 the Académie des Beaux-Arts had 40 chairs distributed over 5 sections: painting (14 chairs), Sculpture (8), architecture (8), gravure et dessin (4), music (6). Additionally there were ‘académiciens / membres libres’ (free chairs; 6 or 10**), ‘associés étrangers (foreign associates; 10 or less). (iR4) In official documents they were called ‘membres de l’Institut’. (R231;R337) So, here the distinction has disappeared again. In other contemporary documents they are also called ‘Académiciens’ (R258/1870).
Note*: this title varies throughout the different governments. The present relation with the French government is not clear to me.
Note**: The académiciens libres were distinguished man by their rank, taste or knowledge in fine arts or have published a remarkable writing. The Annuaire of 1870 (R258,p292=iR40) mentions 6 members, the French WikiPedia site 10 (iR4).
Sources: iR4; iR3; iR5; R3,p660+670; R59,p182/3; R60,p97; R5,p26; R258,p292=iR40;
Teachers / professors / Members of the ‘Institut’ / ‘Académiciens’:
The members of ‘L’Institut’ were often teachers at the École des Beaux-Arts and also called ‘Académiciens’ (R259). In 1875 there were 40 painters member of L’Institut (R88II,p397). Another source mentions there were only 14 painters who had administrative power over the Academy des Beaux Arts and thereby the Ecole des Beaux Arts (iR3). Often they were also member of Juries for the Salon and the Expositions Universelle. They had a large influence on the art-world. Who were those members and professors?
Many of these members / professors were highly awarded. I will note it, when they were most highly awarded. For more info on these artists see meta-impressionists, unless otherwise indicated.
The members were divided in sections: painting; sculpture; architecture; gravure. There also was a section of Académiens libres*, the most important of them was Count de Nieuwerkerke, see Academic painters.
Note 1: It is interesting to examen their painting style. Were they all Neo-Classicists?
Note 2: I will focus on the painters and will just shortly mention engravers, sculptors and architects.
Note*: in 1857 there were 10 Académiens libres. All aristocrates. (R337/1857)
Members died before 1855:
I will render the painters that were members of L’Institut before 1855 in an alphabetical order. Many of these artists were the teacher of later artists. Mostly you will be directed to a French WikiPedia page for more info (=iR4).
Barbier, Jean-Jacque-François le (1738-1826); member from 1816-1826 (iR4).
Bidault, Jean-Joseph-Xavier; member from 1823-1846 (iR4)
Blondel, Merry-Joseph; member from 1832-53 (iR4).
David, Jacques-Louis; member from 1795-1816, see Néo-Classicism (iR4).
Drölling, Michel-Martin; member from 1833-1851 (iR4).
Gérard, François; member from 1812-37 (iR4).
Girodet-Trioson (1767-1824); member from 1816-1824 (iR4).
Granet, François-Marius; member from 1830-50 (iR4).
Gros, Baron Antoine-Jean (1771-1835); member from 1816-1835 (iR4).
Guérin, Pierre-Narcisse; member from 1816-1833 (iR4).
Léthière, Guillaume-Guillon; member from 1818-32 (iR4).
Meynier, Charles (1768-1832); member from 1816-1832 (iR4).
Prud’hon, Pierre-Paul; member from 1816-23 (iR4).
Regnault, Jean-Baptiste; member from 1795-1829 (iR4).
Taunay, Nicolas-Antoine; member from 1795-1830 (iR4).
Thévenin, Charles (1764-1838); member from 1825-1838 (iR4).
Vernet, Carle (1758-1836); member from 1816-1836 (iR4).
Vincent, François-André; member from 1795-1816 (iR4).
Visconti, Ennius-Quirinus; member from 1803-18 (iR4).
Members active between 1855-1900:
Here below you will find the painters that were member of L’Institut between 1855-1900. More info you will find on the page Academic painters. Sometimes you will be directed to a seperate page. First you will find the members that were active after 1855 and died before 1874, Then those who were still active after 1874 and appointed before 1887. Then those appointed between 1887-1900.
You will find the approximate age when they became member, the length of the period they were member and (roughly) the relevance for the Impressionists.
Members who died before 1874:
Here below you will find all the members of L’Institut that were active after 1855 and died before 1874. You will find them in a chronological order of when they passed away. For more info (in alphabetical order) on these artists see Academic painters.
Note: The Impressionists are often presented as opposing against Academic painters. Who were these painters during their formative years?
From 1832 till 1856:
Delaroche, Paul (1797-1856); became a member being just 35 years and for a long period of 24 years; but he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, because he died already in 1856.
From 1822 till 1860:
Hersent, Louis (1777-1860); became a member quite young being 45 years and for a very long period of 38 years; but he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, because he died already in 1860.
From 1835 till 1861:
Abel de Pujol (1795-1861); became a member being 50 years and for a long period of 26 years; but he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, because he died already in 1861.
From 1857 till 1863:
Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), was mainly a Romantic painter, see seperate page. He was elected at the Académie des Beaux-Arts 1857/01/10 (R88II,p1003), when he was already 59 years old. This is strange given the esteem he enjoined. Already 6 years later he died. As member of L’Institut he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, but he was in other ways.
From 1826 till 1863:
Vernet, Horace (1789-1863), see seperate page. became a member being just 37 years and for a very long period of 37 years; but he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, because he died already in 1863.
From 1829 till 1863:
Heim, François-Joseph (1787-1863); became a member quite young being 42 years and for a very long period of 36 years; but he was not very relevant for the Impressionists, because he died already in 1863.
From 1851 till 1864:
Alaux, Jean (1786-1864); became a member quite old being 65 years and for a period of 13 years.
From 1853 till 1864:
Flandrin, Hippolyte (1809-64); became a member quite young being 44 years and for a period of 11 years.
From 1825 till 1867:
Ingres, Jean-Auguste-Dominique (1780-1867):
Ingres was merely a Neo-Classicist. In 1825 Ingres became a member of the Academy (l’Institut) and in 1829 professor at the École National des Beaux-Arts. From 1835 till 1841 he was director of the French Academy in Rome. In 1853 he became president of the École. In 1863 he still was professor at the École. He became a member quite young being 45 years and for a very long period of 42! years.
From 1825 till 1867:
Schnetz, Jean-Victor (1787-1870); became a member being 52 years and for a very long period of 31 years.
From 1825 till 1867:Since 1846:
Brascassat, Jacques-Raimond (1804-1867); became a member quite young being 42 years and for a long period of 21 years.
From 1836 till 1868:
Picot, François-Edouard (1786-1868); became a member being 50 years and for a very long period of 32 years.
From 1863 till 1869:
Hesse, Nicolas-Auguste (1795-1869); became a member quite old being 68 years and for a short period of just 6 years.
From 1839 till 1873:
Couder, Louis-Charles-Auguste (1790-1873); became a member quite young being 49 years and for a very long period of 34 years.
Members active after 1874 and appointed before 1887:
Here below you will find all the members of L’Institut that were still active after 1874 and appointed before 1887. For more info (in alphabetical order) on these artists see Academic painters.
Note: The Impressionists are often presented as opposing against Academic painters. Who were these painters during the years they had their own ‘impressionist’ expositions?
Since 1849:
Cogniet, Léon (1794-1880); became a member being 55 years and for a very long period of 31 years.
Since 1850:
Robert-Fleury (Joseph-Nicolas) (1797-1890); became a member being 53 years and for a very long period of 40! years.
Since 1860:
Signol, Émile (1804-1892); became a member quite young being 56 years and for a very long period of 32 years.
Since 1861:
Meissonier, Jean-Louis-Ernest (1815-91); he was a most highly awarded artist; became a member quite young being 46 years and for a very long period of 30 years.
Since 1863:
Cabanel (Alexandre; 1823-89). He was most highly awarded. See seperate page. (iR4) He became a member quite young being 40 years and for a long period of 26 years.
Since 1864:
Lehmann (Charles-Ernest-Rodolphe-)Henri (1814-82); became a member being 50 years and for a period of 18 years.
Müller, Charles-Louis (1815-92); became a member quite young being 49 years and for a long period of 28 years.
Since 1865:
Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904): was mainly a Neo-Classicist, see seperate page. He became a member quite young being 41 years and for a very long period of 39 years.
Since 1867:
Cabat, Nicolas-Louis (1812-1893): Cabat was mainly a Barbizon painter and pre-impressionist. He became a member being 55 years and for a long period of 26 years.
Hesse, Alexandre(-Jean-Baptiste) (1806-1879); became a member quite old being 61 years and for a period of 12 years.
Since 1868:
Pils, Isidore (1813-1875); became a member being 55 years and for a very short period of 7 years.
Since 1869:
Lenepveu (Jules-Eugène) (1819-98); became a member being 50 years and for a long period of 29 years.
Since 1870:
Baudry (Paul-Jacques-Aimé) (1828-86); became a member quite young being 42 years and for a period of 16 years.
Since 1874:
Hébert, Ernest (1817-1908); became a member being 57 years and for a very long period of 34 years.
Since 1876:
Bouguereau (William-Adolphe; 1825-1905), see seperate page. He was most highly awarded. He became a member being 51 years and for a long period of 29 years.
Since 1879:
Delaunay, Jules-Élie (1828-91). He was most highly awarded. He became a member being 51 years and for a period of 12 years.
Since 1881:
Bonnat, Léon (1833-1922). He was most highly awarded. He became a member quite young being 48 years and for a very long period of 41! years.
Since 1882:
Boulanger, Gustave-Rodolphe (1824-88); became a member being 58 years and for a very short period of 6 years.
Since 1886:
Breton, Jules (1827-1906):
Jules Breton was mainly a Naturalist, see seperate page. He was most highly awarded. He became a member being 59 years and for a long period of 20 years.
Members appointed after 1886:
Here below you will find all the members of L’Institut that were appointed between 1887-1900. For more info (in alphabetical order) on these artists see Academic painters.
Note: The Impressionists are often presented as opposing against Academic painters. Who were these painters during the years they gained some fame and prosperity? The fact they became member after 1886 makes they less relevant for the Impressionists.
Since 1888:
Moreau, Gustave (1826-1898); was a Para-impressionist and a forerunner for the Symbolists. became a member quite old being 62 years and for a period of 10 years.
Since 1889:
Henner (Jean-Jacques) (1829-1925); became a member quite old being 60 years and for a very long period of 36 years.
Since 1891:
Laurens (Jean-Paul) (1838-1921); became a member being 53 years and for a very long period of 30 years.
Lefebvre, Jules-Joseph (1836-1911); became a member being 55 years and for a long period of 21 years.
Since 1892:
Detaille, Edouard (1848-1912); became a member quite young being 44 years and for a long period of 20 years.
Merson, Olivier (1846-1920); became a member quite young being 46 years and for a long period of 28 years.
Since 1893:
Benjamin-Constant, Jean-Joseph (1845-1902); became a member quite young being 48 years and for a short period of 9 years.
Since 1897:
Vollon, Antoine (1833-1900); became a member quite old being 64 years and for a very short period of 3! years.
Since 1898:
Cormon, Fernand (1845-1924); became a member being 53 years and for a long period of 26 years.
Morot, Aimé-Nicolas (1850-1913); became a member quite young being 48 years and for a period of 15 years.
Since 1900:
Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929), see seperate page. He became a member quite young being 48 years and for a long period of 29 years.
Members appointed after 1900:
Here you will find some painters that became member of L’Institut after 1900. I will mention them in chronological order of when they became member. For more info (in alphabetical order) see meta-impressionists, unless otherwise indicated.
Humbert, Ferdinand:
Member from 1902-1935.
Carolus-Duran (1837-1917):
Was a member since 1904 till 1917 and director of the Académie in Rome from 1905-13 (iR3). He was a Para-Impressionist. See seperate page.
Lhermitte, Léon-Augustin:
Member from 1905-1926.
Besnard, Paul-Albert (1849-1934):
Besnard was a Para-Impressionist. Since 1912/13 member of L’Institut. Director of the École des Beaux-Arts , since 1913 in Rome and since 1922 in Paris.
Gervex, Henri:
Member from 1913-29. He was a Para-Impressionist.
Martin, Henri:
From 1917-44; was a neo-impressionist (with symbolist tendencies).
Chabas, Paul :
From 1921-1937.
Prinet, René-Xavier:
From 1921-1943.
Forain:
In 1923 Forain, who did partake in 4 of the 8 ‘impressionist’ expositions, was elected as member of the Academy of Fine Arts (l’Institut) (R43,p56;R88;R9;aR21,p13)
Ménard, Émile-René:
from 1826-1930.
Sidaner, Henri le:
From 1930-1941.
Denis, Maurice:
From 1932-43; see seperate page.
Blanche, Jacques-Émile:
From 1935-1942.
Vuillard, Édouard:
From 1938-1941; post-impressionist.
Engravers, sculptors and architects:
Several members of the Institut were (merely) engravers, sculptors or architects. I will mention them shortly here below. I will do so in order of when they were appointed member.
Antoine-Louis Barye; sculptor; member from 1868-75 (R337/1874; iR4); see pre-impressionists.
Dubois(-Pigalle), Paul (1829-1905): Mainly a sculptor, but also a (portrait) painter; member from 1876-1905; see meta-impressionists. (R337/1901; iR3;iR6)
Falquière, Alexandre (1831-1900):
Sculptor and also a painter. Member of L’Institut since 1882 (sculpture chair) (R337/1886). See: iR3; iR6; R9,p283;
Louis-Oscar Roty (1846-1911):
Sculptor; made namely medals and plaquettes; since 1888 professor at the École and since 1897 it’s president. Appointed in the Légion d’Honneur as Chevalier, as Officier (1889), as Commandeur (1900); member from 1888 till 1911 (section de gravure) (R337/1901; iR3; iR4)
Independant members:
Here below you will the names of some independant members. In total they had 10 chairs. I will render them in chronological order of when they became member.
Taylor, baron Isidore-Justin-Séverin (1789-1879); namely a dramatist; member from 1847-1879; (R337/1874;iR3)
Comte Émilien de Nieuwerkerke; sculptor; member from 1853-1892, see meta-impressionists.
Bonaparte, Prince Napoléon; member from 1857-1891 (iR4).
Delaborde, Vicomte Henri (1811-99); member from 1868-1874; see meta-impressionists.
Gruyer, François-Anatole (1825-1909); curator of Musée du Louvre from 1881-86; member from 1875-1909; (iR4)
Lafenestre, George (1837-1919): Art-critic; portrayed by Desboutin (iR6) and Weerts (iR6). Member from 1892-1919. (iR3; iR4)
Michel, André (1853-1925);
Art-critic and art-historian. Teacher at art schools. Not an artist. ‘Unattached’ member since 1918. (R90I,p481;iR3)
Associés étrangers:
Here below you will find some names of foreign members between 1855-1900.
Millais, John Everett (1829-96); member from 1882-96; (iR4)
Menzel, Adolph von; Germain; member from 1895-1905; (iR4)
Israëls, Jozef (1824-1911); Dutch; member from 1902-11; (iR4)
Singer Sargent, John (1856-1925); from the USA; member from 1905-24; (iR4)
Professor, no member:
Some Professors at the École des Beaux-Arts were not a member of L’Institut.
Blanc (Joseph Paul) (1846-1904):
Since 1889 professor at the École des Beaux-Arts.
Born in Paris. Received the Prix de Rome in 1867. Awarded at the Salon in 1870 (medal), 1872 (golden medal); and at the Exposition Universelle in 1878 (silver medal), 1889 (golden medal). Appointed in the Legion d’Honneur in 1878 as Chevalier and in 1900 as Officier.
He was not a member of L’Institut (R337/1901).
President:
Info will be added.
Permanent secretary:
In the years 1855-1900 the following people were permanent secretary of the Academie des Beaux-Arts (aR3=iR4):
1854-1862: Halévy, (Jacques-François-)Fromental (1799-1862); a composer (iR4)
1862-1874: Beulé, (Charles-)Ernest (1826-74); a writer (iR4)
1874-1898: Delaborde, Henri (1811-1899); see meta-impressionists.
1898-1903: Larroumet, Gustave (1852-1903); a writer (iR4)
General sources:
My main sources are the Exposition Universelles catalogues (R231), the Explications de Salon (R337/1857+1868+1874+1886+1901); the Salon database (iR1)
Additionally I used: Walther (2013=R3), Denvir (R5), Raeburn (1985=R31), Wildenstein (1996=R22I), Adams (1994=R59), Monneret (1978-81=R88), Pissarro & Durand-Ruel (2005=R116I), WikiPedia (iR3-5), Joconde (iR23). See the link for other general References (=Rx) and to the internet references (=iRx). See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.
For further reading:
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Additional sources (=aRx):
- WikiPedia//École des Beaux-Arts (page on WikiPedia = iR3)
- jssgallery.org//École des Beaux-Arts (page on jss gallery =iR359)
- fr.wikipedia.org//Académie_des_beaux_arts (=iR4)
This page at the bottom renders an overview with members seated in the painting section. - fr.wikisource.org//L’Institut_de_France (PDF of a publication by Léon Aucoc, 1889; =iR416)
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Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism / École des Beaux-Arts: L’Institut and it’s members. Last modified 2025/11/01. https://www.impressionism.nl/linstitut/”