1868 Salon

 

 

Meta-Impressionism/ other exhibitions:

The Salon

1868

The Salon of 1868, short info:
The Salon of 1868 (the 86th) lasted from the 1st of May till the 20th of June and was held in the Palais des Champs-Elysées in Paris (iR4;iR3). The catalogue mentions 3137 partakers and 4283 numbers (iR1), this is much higher than the years before.
One of the Médailles d’Honneur was awarded to the painter Gustave Brion (1824-77). See etch after the original painting (iR64; iR132; iR48). See compilation↑. (More info + pictures on Brion: iR3; iR6; iR6; iR11; iR13; iR17; iR48; iR155.) His painting can be seen as the standard of art that year. None of the painters was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur as Officier or higher.
On this page you will find short information on the Salon of 1868 and some of the pictures exhibited. First you will find art-works of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions. Than some pictures of some related artists. At last you will find some rejected pictures. At the bottom of this page you will find some background information.
Note: If you double click on the first (of a cluster of) pictures and then click on full screen, you can create a slideshow. On a smartphone or laptop you can also zoom in. Enjoy!

 

 

Exhibited art-works by the ‘impressionist’:
24 of the 57 partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions showed about 43 art-works at the Salon of 1868. Béliard (1x); Boudin (2x); Félix Bracquemond (1x +1 engraving); Mlle Marie Pasquiou-Quivoron (the later Marie Bracquemond) (1x); Brandon (2x); Bureau (2x); Cals (2x); Mary Stevenson (=Cassatt) (1x); Colin (2x); De Gas (=Degas) (1x); Latouche (2x); Legros (2x); Lepic (2x +1dr=wc); Lépine (2x); Meyer (2 enamels); Monet (1x); Morisot (1x); Auguste Ottin (2 sc); Léon Ottin (2x); Piette (2x +2wc); Pissarro (2x); Renoir (1x); Rouart (2x); Sisley (1x). See also the accounts of these artists.
Legros received a medal.
Note: A painting of Redon was accepted, but not exhibited.
The art-works will be rendered by form, first the paintings, then other art-works and then alphabettically.

 

Exhibited art-works by other artists:
Here below you will find some art-works (mainly paintings) of some other artists that were exhibited at the Salon of 1868. You will find them by form and than in an alphabetical order. This will not give you an overall impression (that is outside the scope of this website). Namely works of pre-impressionist, para-impressionist and other related artitsts will be shown. Namely the following artists showed paintings: Bazille; Corot; Jongkind; Manet;
40 artists received a medal for the section painting and drawings, etc., including Émile-Adelard Breton, Karl-Pierre Daubigny, Harpignies, Lefebvre and Vollon.
Note: additional info and pictures will follow.

 

Rejected art-works:
Here below you will find some art-works that had been rejected. Namely of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions.

 

Background information:
The art-works were divided in 7 sections:
1. painting; 2. drawings +watercolours +pastels +miniatures +enamels +porcelain +(cartons for) stained glass windows; 3. sculpture; 4. engravings on medals and gemstones; 5. architecture; 6. engravings; 7. lithographs.
Per sections artists could send in 2 art-works.
In an appendix the paintings and sculptures executed since 1867 in public monuments were noted.

The jury:
There were 4 juries. One for section 1+2; one for 3+4; one for 5; one for 6+7. The overall president was Comte de Nieuwerkerke.  1868/03/22 the admission and award jury was elected. In the painting section (+ drawing etc.) the following painters were elected (in order of the most votes): Daubigny, Baudry**, Bida, Pils*, Breton**, Gleyre, Cabanel**, Cabat*, Robert-Fleury* (President), Fromentin, Français**Gérôme** and as reserve Brion*, Comte*, Meissonier**, Isabey*, Rousseau (Philippe), Millet*. There were 6 additional non-artists part of the jury, in total 18*** persons of which 6 were member of L’Institut.
Note*: finally these painters were not part of the jury.
Note*: later added as member.
Note*: these artists were at that time member of L’Institut; see Academic painters.
Note**: later member of L’Institut; see Academic painters.
Note***: In 1867 there had been 15 members + 3 additional members.

The awards:
The Médaille d’Honneur was awarded to Gustave Brion and Alexandre Falguière (statuaire).
40 artists received a medal for the section painting and drawings, etc., including Émile-Adelard Breton, Karl-Pierre Daubigny, Harpignies, Lefebvre, Legros and Vollon.
The 2 Médailles d’Honneur had a value of 4.000fr each; the other medals 400fr.

Légion d’Honneur:
There were 9 people appointed as Chevalier in the Légion d’Honneur, including J.F. Millet.

 

Sources:
Namely the Explication des Oeuvres of 1868 and 1869 (for the awards) (=R337).
See at the bottom of the main page on the Salon.
See link for the subscriptions of the paintings.

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism / other exhibitions: Salon of 1868; info and pictures. Last modified 2025/12/09. https://www.impressionism.nl/1868-salon/

 

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.