Meta-Impressionism:

Awarded Impressionists

Medals, Légion d’Honneur, purchases and more

Auguste Renoir: 1892, Girls at the Piano, 116x90, Orsay (iR52;R30,no662;R31,no91;M1) Bought by the State for 4000fr. — Auguste Renoir: 1892, Girls at the Piano, 116×90, Orsay (iR52;R30,no662;R31,no91;M1) Bought by the State for 4000fr.

Introduction:
Impressionism is often framed as opposed to the Salon and it’s system of awards. Still, several partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions were also awarded. On this page you will see which partakers received medals at the Salon, it’s successor the Salon de la Sociéte des Artistes Français and at the Expositions Universelle. Which partakers were appointed in the Légion d’Honneur. Which works were bought by the state and which works were assigned.
(Note: More information will be rendered in the future.)

Félix Bracquemond: S1866-252, Portrait de Mme P.M... (-> medal peinture) =1866, Portrait de Mme Paul Meurice, 126x100, MNC Compiègne (R73,p25+8;iR1;iR10;M200) — Félix Bracquemond: S1866-252, Portrait de Mme P.M… (-> medal peinture) =1866, Portrait de Mme Paul Meurice, 126×100, MNC Compiègne (R73,p25+8;iR1;iR10;M200)

Félix Bracquemond: 1868, B181, Frontispiece for 'L'illustration Nouvelle' (1868/08/14), etch 2of3, 24x16, Metropolitan (R265,no16=iR14;iR1;R85III,no181;R259;M23) =!? S1868-3990, Sept gravures à l’eau-forte, même numéro (Sujets divers pour la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, le Musée universel, etc.) (-> medal gravure) — Félix Bracquemond: 1868, B181, Frontispiece for ‘L’illustration Nouvelle’ (1868/08/14), etch 2of3, 24×16, Metropolitan (R265,no16=iR14;iR1;R85III,no181;R259;M23) =!? S1868-3990, Sept gravures à l’eau-forte, même numéro (Sujets divers pour la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, le Musée universel, etc.) (-> medal gravure)

Félix Bracquemond: 1860, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre, pastel, 59x45, Orsay (iR10;iR127;iR1;R231;R88;M1) =S1861-402, Portrait de M. le docteur H. de M..., dessin au pastel; =EU-C-1889-II-63, Portrait du Dr. H. de Montègre, pastel (app. à M. Michel Colombari); =!? EU-C-1900-744+hc, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre; =SNBA-1907-171-14, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre (appartient à Mme. Ferrari); =??? 1IE-1874-23, Portrait (dessin). — Félix Bracquemond: 1860, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre, pastel, 59×45, Orsay (iR10;iR127;iR1;R231;R88;M1) =S1861-402, Portrait de M. le docteur H. de M…, dessin au pastel; =EU-C-1889-II-63, Portrait du Dr. H. de Montègre, pastel (app. à M. Michel Colombari); =!? EU-C-1900-744+hc, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre; =SNBA-1907-171-14, Portrait du Docteur Horace de Montègre (appartient à Mme. Ferrari); =??? 1IE-1874-23, Portrait (dessin).

Prix de Rome:
Auguste Ottin was the only partaker of the ‘impressionist’ expositions who received the Prix de Rome, namely in 1836 for sculpture with a classical statue (iR1;R231;M9).

Medals for the ‘Impressionists’ at regional exhibitions:
Some partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions received prices at regional exhibitions.

1868: at the Exposition Maritime Internationale in Le Havre Boudin (and Manet) received a silver medal; Monet a bronze medal. (R161,p54/5;R22IV,p1016;R318,p202;R161,p54/5;R51,p20).

Medals for the ‘Impressionists’ at the Salon:
Some partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions received prices at the Salon and it’s successor the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français. Some afterwards exhibited ‘hors concours’. Here below you will find an alphabetical overview:

Astruc : exhibited hors concours in 1892 and 1897 onwards (iR1)
Boudin received a 3rd class medal in 1881 and a 2nd class medal in 1883; he exhibited hors concours 1885 onwards (iR1;R161,p70;R231).
Félix Bracquemond: received in 1866 a medal for an oil painting and in 1868 a medal for an etch (R73,p8+25;iR1;R259); exhibited ‘exempté’ in 1868+69+70; Received in 1872 2nd class medal and in 1881 a 1st class medal; exhibited hors concours 1881 onwards; in 1884 he received a Médaille d’Honneur (R88).
Brandon: In 1865 he received a medal (of History) at the Salon (iR1;iR69;R87;iR3). Some sources state that in 1867 Brandon received a medal for the ‘Portugese Synagoge at Amsterdam’ (aR1;iR69;iR3). Note: the preface in the posthumous catalogue suggests that both medals were given for retracing the life of Saint-Brigit (aR4) and La Gazette mentions the medals were for genre painting (R259). Maybe Brandon received the 1867 medal because his serie of mural pictures of Sainte-Brigitte, first shown at the Salon of 1865, was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle (R231/iR19). He exhibited ‘exempt’ in 1868 + 69 + 70 and also in 1889 (iR1).
In 1880 Colin received a mention honorable at the Salon (R337/1901;iR4;aR4;aR17).
WikiPedia states he received a golden medal at the ‘Salon’ of 1900 (iR4), but this is not affirmed by the ‘explication’ (R337//1901).
In 1879 Desboutin received a 3rd class medal (for his etchings) (R231/iR40;R88I,p196;aR9). In 1882 and 1883 he exhibited exempté with his etchings (iR1). In 1883 he received a ‘mention honorably’ for a painting (R337/1901;aR9).
Franc Lamy received an honorable mention in 1887, a 3rd class medal in 1888, a 2nd class medal in 1890 and since 1891 he exhibited hors concours for the painting section (iR1;iR4;iR3;R337/1901).
In 1861 Legros was succesfull and received a mention. In 1867 and 1868 he received a medal for genre painting (R259;aR6;R337/1901).
Lepic was awarded a third-class medal in 1877 (iR69;iR3;R87). He exhibited ‘exempté’ from 1882-88. (iR1)
Lépine received an honorable mention in 1884 (iR23;aR5) and in 1889 he was awarded a third-class medal (R21,p279;aR2;aR8).
In 1866 Alfred Meyer won a medal for painting on email (R259;iR1;iR69;R3;aR1;R16;R87;R88). In 1868 / 69 / 70 / 74 / 75 / 82 / 83 he exhibited ‘exempté’ and 1884-1888 ‘hors concours’. Mostly this means that Meyer more often received medals, but the ‘Explication’ only mentions the 1866 medal (R337/1901).
Auguste Ottin received a 2nd class medal in 1842 and a 1st class medal in 1846 (iR1;R259;R3;aR4;R231).
Jean-François Raffaëlli received an honorable mention in 1885 (iR1)

Edouard Brandon, S1867-203, Le sermon du Daïan Cardozo; synagogue d’Amsterdam, le 22 juillet 1866 = 1867, Portugese Synagogue at Amsterdam, 76x174, WAM Baltimore (M48;iR6;iR1) Medal. — Edouard Brandon, S1867-203, Le sermon du Daïan Cardozo; synagogue d’Amsterdam, le 22 juillet 1866 = 1867, Portugese Synagogue at Amsterdam, 76×174, WAM Baltimore (M48;iR6;iR1) Medal.

Gustave Colin: 1888, Sbr, Novillada en Biscaye (young bullfighting in Biscaye), 161x201, MBA Pau (iR10;aR15;iR6;iR23;aR16=M170;iR1;R462,p39) Expos: =SdAF-1888-614, Novillada; en Biscaye (1889 bought by the state); Arras-1967-65. — Gustave Colin: 1888, Sbr, Novillada en Biscaye (young bullfighting in Biscaye), 161×201, MBA Pau (iR10;aR15;iR6;iR23;aR16=M170;iR1;R462,p39) Expos: =SdAF-1888-614, Novillada; en Biscaye (1889 bought by the state); Arras-1967-65.

Marcellin Desboutin: 1876, Dailly, dans mes bottes de L'Assomoir, etch ps (after painting), 18x11, BNF Paris + A2021/04/29 (iR40;iR17;iR1;R158,p265,no58;R85XIII,no15;aR10,no58) Compare: S1879-949, Portrait de M. Dailly, dans le rôle de Mes-Bottes de l'Assommoir (=? oil painting) -> 3rd class medal (R231/iR40;R88I,p196) — Marcellin Desboutin: 1876, Dailly, dans mes bottes de L’Assomoir, etch ps (after painting), 18×11, BNF Paris + A2021/04/29 (iR40;iR17;iR1;R158,p265,no58;R85XIII,no15;aR10,no58) Compare: S1879-949, Portrait de M. Dailly, dans le rôle de Mes-Bottes de l’Assommoir (=? oil painting) -> 3rd class medal (R231/iR40;R88I,p196)

Medals for the ‘impressionists’ at the Exposition Universelle:
Several partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions received prices at the Expositions Universelle.

Astruc: 1889: honorable mention; 1900: 3rd class medal (iR5;iR35;R231)
Boudin received in 1889 a golden medal (iR24;R161,p79;R3;R74;iR3;iR22).
Félix Bracquemond: In 1900 he received a grande medaille d’honneur (Grand Prix de Gravure) (R3,p650; R16,p81;R88;aR18)
Brandon: Some sources state that in 1867 Brandon received a medal for the ‘Portugese Synagoge at Amsterdam’ (aR1;iR69;iR3). Note: the preface in the posthumous catalogue suggests that both medals were given for retracing the life of Saint-Brigit (aR4) and La Gazette mentions the medals were for genre painting (R259). Maybe Brandon received the 1867 medal because his serie of mural pictures of Sainte-Brigitte, first shown at the Salon of 1865, was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle (R231/iR19).
In 1889 Colin received a silver medal (or: médaille d’argent) at the Exposition Universelle (R337/1901;aR17;iR5;iR4;aR4; note: not at the Salon, where he didn’t exhibit in 1889 (iR1).
Desboutin exhibited in 1889 received a 2nd class medal (R85XIII,p33;R231). In 1900 at the Exposition Décennale he exhibited 3 portraits (R158,p276) and received a bronze medal. For his engravings he received a Grand Prix (R231-13;R337/1901;R88;R3;R9).
Franc Lamy received an honorable mention in 1889 and in 1900 a 3rd class medal (R377/1901;iR1;iR4;R3;R88;R9)
Albert Lebourg received at the Decennial exposition in 1900 a silver medal (R231-13;R337/1901)
In 1889 Lépine had exhibited 2 paintings at the Exposition Universelle (at the Oeuvres d’Art) and received a golden medal (R231/iR40;R9;iR3;aR1;R3;aR5).
Auguste Ottin received a 2nd class medal in 1867 (R259;R3;aR9;iR23;iR4;aR4;R87;R88;iR1;R231)
Jean-François Raffaëlli received at the Exposition Universelle in 1889 a first class medal (for painting?) (iR1) and he received a golden medal for his colour etchings at the Decennial exposition in 1900 (R231-13;R337/1901;iR1;aR7,p174).
In 1900 Vidal received a bronze medal with studies and pastels (R231-13;R377/1901;R88;iR69;R3;R9;iR60;aR2).
Zandomeneghi exhibited 5 paintings and 3 pastels in 1889, all without title (R231); he received a ‘mention honorable’ (R88II,p157).

Impressionists in the Légion d’Honneur:
The following partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions were appointed in the Légion d’Honneur. Some of the ‘impressionists’ refused to be appointed in the Légion d’Honneur. Here below you will find an alphabetical overview:

Astruc as Chevalier in 1890 (iR26;R231-3;R337/1901)
Note: others (wrongly) mention 1898 (iR35) or 1900 (iR5).
Boudin was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by Puvis de Chavannes 1892/11/02 (this was decided 1892/07/19) (R318,p212;R161,p92;iR24;R161,p81;R74;iR3;iR22).
Félix Bracquemond was appointed Chevalier in 1882 and Officier in 1889 (R337/1901).
1904/12: Cassatt received the title Chevalier (R44,p141+39;R3).
In 1907 Colin was appointed in the Legion d’Honneur (iR17) as Chevalier in 1899 and in 1907 as Officier (aR17;R337/1901;iR5;aR4).
1895/06/08 Desboutin was appointed Chevalier (R3;iR3;R88;R9;aR9;aR10;R158,p156). This let to a quarrel with Degas and they wouldn’t see each other anymore (R158,p157/8).
Forain was made Chevalier in 1893 and Commandeur in 1928 (R50,p31+62;R43,p58;aR4;aR21,p13)
Guillaumin was appointed Chevalier 1911/12/07 (R179,p59)
Franc Lamy was appointed Chevalier in 1893 (not in 1892; iR5) and in 1914 Officier (iR4;iR5;iR1;R337/1901)
Lebourg was appointed Chevalier 1903/06/27 and Officier in 1924/04/22 (iR1;iR3;iR24;iR65;iR22;aR1); one source mentions he was appointed Chevalier in 1906 (iR1)
Auguste Ottin was appointed Chevalier in 1867/06/29 (R259;R3;aR9;iR23;iR4;aR4;R87;R88;iR1;R231)
Jean-François Raffaëlli was appointed Chevalier in 1889 and Officier in 1906 (iR1;iR22;aR7,p173;R337/1901).
Renoir 1900/08/16 as Chevalier, 1911/10/20 as Officier and 1919/02/19 as Commandeur (R31,p308-314;r337/1901).
Redon was apointed in the Légion d’Honneur is 1903 (iR3).
1933: Schuffenecker was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur (R54,p162).
Signac was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur; 1911/10/25 as Chevalier; 1933/12/30 as Commandeur (R39,p312+322); I assume he was appointed Officier somewhere in between.

Eugène Boudin: 1886, SDbr, Un grain (a squall), 117x160, MBA Morlaix (iR6;R161,p79;R51,p237;R318,p208;iR1) =SdAF-1886-302, Un Grain (-> bought by the state). — Eugène Boudin: 1886, SDbr, Un grain (a squall), 117×160, MBA Morlaix (iR6;R161,p79;R51,p237;R318,p208;iR1) =SdAF-1886-302, Un Grain (-> bought by the state).

Eugène Boudin: 1888, CR1726, SDbr, Le Havre, A Russian corvette in the Eure basin, 41x56, A2014/11/26 (iR10;iR15;iR1;R161,p79;R122,no1726) =ENBA-1899-249. Compare: SdAF-1888-322, Une corvette russe dans le bassin de l’Eure; le Havre (-> bought by the State, now in Musée d'Orsay). — Eugène Boudin: 1888, CR1726, SDbr, Le Havre, A Russian corvette in the Eure basin, 41×56, A2014/11/26 (iR10;iR15;iR1;R161,p79;R122,no1726) =ENBA-1899-249. Compare: SdAF-1888-322, Une corvette russe dans le bassin de l’Eure; le Havre (-> bought by the State, now in Musée d’Orsay).

Official purchases of the ‘impressionists’:
The central government (the state) and also local governments and musea purchased some of the art-works of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions. Several works had first been exhibited at the Salon. Here I will render a chronological overview (that will be extended in the future):

1860: Boudin sold ‘Le pardon…’, exhibited at the Salon of 1859 (no.330=CR185) to the municipality of Le Havre for 500fr (M15;R318,no199;R122,no185).
1864: Though the portrait of Erasme by Félix Bracquemond was refused for for the Salon of 1863 and exhibited at the Salon des Refusés. In 1864 it was as yet exhibited at the Salon and then it was already part of the Louvre (iR1).
In 1878 CR320↓ of Degas was purchased by the Muséum in Pau (M170;iR23).
In 1883 2CR887↓ of Giuseppe de Nittis was purchased by the State for 12.000fr and placed in the Musée du Luxembourg (M1;iR357=M5).
1884: CR1880 of Boudin, probably exhibited as no.316 at the Salon, was bought for 1.200fr; it is now in MBA Saint-Lô (R122,no1880;R318,no99)
1886: no.302 at the Salon (=CR2134) of Boudin, was bought by the State; it is now in the MBA Morlaix. (R122,no2134;R161,p79;R51,p237;R318,p208)
1888: the state purchased no.322 of the Salon (=CR2195) made by Boudin; formerly in MBA Agen (M281), now in Musée d’Orsay (M1) (R122,no2195;R318,p209;R161,p79).
1888: the state purchased CR692=CCPP732↓ of Sisley (R396,no732;R53,p141)
1889: the state purchased ‘1888, Sbr, Novillada en Biscaye (young bullfighting in Biscaye), 161×201, MBA Pau’ of Gustave Colin (iR23;M170).
1892: the state purchased no.143 exhibited at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=CR2895) of Boudin for 2.500fr; now in the musée d’Orsay (M1) (R122,no2895;R318,no139;R161,p81).
In 1892 the state bought ‘Jeunes filles au piano’ a painting by Renoir for 4000 francs, which denoted an official recognition (R31,no.91).
In 1894 a painting by Morisot.
1899: the State accepted the gift of a painting of Sisley (CR816=CCPP924) by a group of friends (R396,no924).
1900: the State had bought a marble statue of Astruc and placed it in the Musée de Laval; a plaster version was shown at the Decennial exposition of the Exposition Universelle in 1900 (R231-3).
1934/12: the painting Garden at Dartmouth, painted in 1922, of Lucien Pissarro was acquired by the French State for 7.000fr (R312,p207).

Edgar Degas: 2IE-1876-36, Portraits dans un bureau (Nouvelle-Orléans) = CR320, 1873, Le bureau de coton à la Nouvelle Orléans, 73x92, MBA Pau (iR2;iR23;R90II,p48+34;R2,p161+170;R26,no356;R114,no320;R231-1+2;M170) Purchased in 1878. Expos: =EU-1900-C-209, Intérieur d'un comptoir de coton à la Nouvelle-Orléans (Musée de Pau). — Edgar Degas: 2IE-1876-36, Portraits dans un bureau (Nouvelle-Orléans) = CR320, 1873, Le bureau de coton à la Nouvelle Orléans, 73×92, MBA Pau (iR2;iR23;R90II,p48+34;R2,p161+170;R26,no356;R114,no320;R231-1+2;M170) Purchased in 1878. Expos: =EU-1900-C-209, Intérieur d’un comptoir de coton à la Nouvelle-Orléans (Musée de Pau)

Giuseppe de Nittis: 1882, DMM887, The Place de Carousel and the Ruins of the Tuileries Palace, on wood, 45x60, Louvre (iR2;iR6;iR35;iR40;aR5=iR261;aR8,p228;R277,no887;M1;M5) =!? GP-2EIP-1883-10, Ruines des Tuileries; =ENBA-1883-563 (acquired by the state for 12.000fr); =!? MdL-1912-665, La place du Carrousel — Giuseppe de Nittis: 1882, DMM887, The Place de Carousel and the Ruins of the Tuileries Palace, on wood, 45×60, Louvre (iR2;iR6;iR35;iR40;aR5=iR261;aR8,p228;R277,no887;M1;M5) =!? GP-2EIP-1883-10, Ruines des Tuileries; =ENBA-1883-563 (acquired by the state for 12.000fr); =!? MdL-1912-665, La place du Carrousel

Alfred Sisley: 1887-88ca, Sbl, CR692=CCPP732, Matinée de septembre, 55x73, MBA Agen (iR155;iR10;iR6;R129,no692;R396,no732;M281) Expo: DR1888-8. Provenance: 1888 purchased by the state. — Alfred Sisley: 1887-88ca, Sbl, CR692=CCPP732, Matinée de septembre, 55×73, MBA Agen (iR155;iR10;iR6;R129,no692;R396,no732;M281) Expo: DR1888-8. Provenance: 1888 purchased by the state.

Alfred Sisley: 1892, SDbr, CR816=CCPP924, The Loing Canal at Moret, 73x93, Orsay (iR155;iR10;iR2;iR27;iR11;R53,p126;R2129,no816;R396,no924;M1) Provenance: 1899 group of friends; offered to and accepted by the state. Expos: San Francisco-1915-75; Barcelona-1917-1455; Madrid-1918. — Alfred Sisley: 1892, SDbr, CR816=CCPP924, The Loing Canal at Moret, 73×93, Orsay (iR155;iR10;iR2;iR27;iR11;R53,p126;R2129,no816;R396,no924;M1) Provenance: 1899 group of friends; offered to and accepted by the state. Expos: San Francisco-1915-75; Barcelona-1917-1455; Madrid-1918.

Assignments for the ‘Impressionists’:
Some of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions received assignments from the state.

Félix Bracquemond was commanded to make an etch of the portrait of Erasme. It was refused for the Salon of 1863 and exhibited at the Salon des Refusés. In 1864 it was as yet exhibited at the Salon and then it was already part of the Louvre. Another print was exhibited at the first ‘impressionist’ exposition, see 1IE-1874-25-4.
Auguste Ottin regularly received commissions from the state (iR1;R87;R88).
In 1881 Boudin received an official commission for two views of the harbour of Dieppe.

Posthumous tribute exhibitions at the École des Beaux-Arts:
Some artists were honored with a posthumous exhibition at the École des Beaux-Arts or at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

1899/01/09 – 30: major retrospective with 457 works (364 paintings; 73 pastels; 20 watercolours) of Boudin (aR10=iR40;R161,p87;iR65)
1902/12/11 – 31: there was a retrospective exposition of Desboutin at the École des Beaux-Arts (R88;aR7;aR9), according to Clément-Janin with 194 paintings, 477 (or 297) engravings and a legion of drawings (or 34) (R158,p112+167).
In 1906 the SNBA dedicated an exhibition to the oeuvre of Colin in a special room (iR1;R87).
1907: a large retrospective with about 300 art-works of Félix Bracquemond (aR22;iR284;iR19;iR1;R231;R337;R88I,p76).
1923: there was an exposition held with works of Desboutin at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (R88)
1927/05/20 – 06/? there was an exhibition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, with works of Félix Bracquemond (95 numbers) (aR19;iR195).
1931: retrospective at the Salon d’Automne with works of Boudin (iR1).

Eugène Boudin: 1881, CR1548, SDbr, La Meuse à Rotterdam, 85x128, Orsay (iR10;iR127;iR1;R161,p70;R122,no1548;M1) Expos: =SdAF-1881-260, La Meuse, à Rotterdam (-> 3rd class medal); ENBA-1899-164. — Eugène Boudin: 1881, CR1548, SDbr, La Meuse à Rotterdam, 85×128, Orsay (iR10;iR127;iR1;R161,p70;R122,no1548;M1) Expos: =SdAF-1881-260, La Meuse, à Rotterdam (-> 3rd class medal); ENBA-1899-164.

Eugène Boudin, 1885, CR1937, Le Havre, the outer harbour, 42x56, A2021/07/01 (iR15;aR10=iR40;R318,p208;R122,no1937) =?? SdAF-1885-327, L’appareillage; =HD1898/03/23; =EdBA-1899-257, Le bassin du Havre, 1885. — Eugène Boudin: 1885, CR1937, SDbl, Le Havre, the outer harbour, 42×56, A2021/07/01 (iR15;aR10=iR40;R318,p208;R122,no1937) =?? SdAF-1885-327, L’appareillage; =HD1898/03/23; =EdBA-1899-257, Le bassin du Havre, 1885.

Sources:
My main sources are Monneret (1978-81=R88II,p386-403), Cuzin (1982=R97), Brettell (1987=R210). Other sources are Rewald (1973=R1), Walther (2013=R3), Denvir (1993=R5). 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.

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Awarded impressionists; medals; Légion d’honneur; purchases and assigments; tribute expositions. Last modified 2025/10/22. https://www.impressionism.nl/awarded-impressionists/”

Note: additional info and pictures will follow.