Meta-Impressionism/ other exhibitions:

The Salon

1840s

Introduction:
The Salons in the 1840s were held yearly at the Louvre, called the ‘Musée royal des arts’. In 1849 the Salon was held in the Palais des Tuilleries. February 1848 there had been a revolution (iR3). It ended the reigh of king Louis Philippe I, from the house of Orléans (iR3). The 2nd French Republic came to existence (iR3) and in December Louis Napoleon (iR3) was elected as first president (iR3). (see political developments)

Since 1798 there was a jury nominated by the government, that would judge the admissions of the artists. Since 1831 the jury was dominated by members of ‘L’Institut‘. But, in 1848, after the Februar revolution, there was no jury. That year Corot, Dupré and Rousseau were member of the organisational committee (R290,p49). In 1849 the jury was elected by the artists.

On this page you will find some exhibited art-works (in a chronological and alphabetical way) and an overview from year till year. There will be extra attention on works of the partakers of the later ‘impressionist’ expositions (1874-86). Namely Cals and Auguste Ottin already were active at the Salon. Between 1830 and 1848 1/3 of the exhibited works were landscapes (R290,p54+65). These titles of landscapes often render an indication of the location and more than once also of atmospheric conditions, like ‘un soir d’automne’, ‘effet de matin’ and ’temps gris’. This suggests a painting style with (Pre-)Impressionist tendencies.

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 of the ‘impressionists’:
Some partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions already showed art-works at the Salon in the 1840s, namely: Cals (1840 +41 +42 +43 +44 +45 +46 +47 +48), Debras (1843 +49), Auguste Ottin (1841 +42 +44 +45 +46 +47 +48) and Tillot (1846 +48 +49).
The art-works will be rendered by form, then alphabettically and then in chronological order of when exhibited.

 

 

Exhibited paintings of other artists:
Here below you will find some art-works (mainly paintings) of some other artists that were exhibited at the Salon in the 1840s. You will find them by form, than in a alphabetical order and than chronologically of when exhibited. 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. The art-works will be rendered by form, first the paintings and secondly the other art-works, then in chronological order and then alphabettically.
Note: additional info and pictures will follow.

 

The Salon from year to year:

1840:
The catalogue mentions 1235 partakers and 1849 numbers (iR1); note: relatively smaller numbers. It started the 5th of March.
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (3x).

1841:
The catalogue mentions 1514 partakers and 2280 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (2x) Auguste Ottin (1sc).
Rousseau had stopped submitting since he was refused the years before (R290,p53+180;R59).

1842:
The catalogue mentions 1431 partakers and 2121 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (3x) Auguste Ottin (4sc).

1843:
The catalogue mentions 1162 partakers and 1600 numbers (iR1); note: relatively small numbers.
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (4x) and Debras (1x).
Gleyre received a 2nd class medal.

1844:
The catalogue mentions 1642 partakers and 2423 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (2x) and Auguste Ottin (1sc).
Diaz received a 3rd class medal (for genre painting).

1845:
The catalogue mentions 1551 partakers and 2334 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (4x).

1846:
The catalogue mentions 1495 partakers and 2412 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (11x!), Auguste Ottin (2sc?) and Tillot (1x).
Auguste Ottin received a 1st class medal. Corot was appointed as Chevalier in the Legion d’Honneur.

1847:
The catalogue mentions 1442 partakers and 2321 numbers (iR1).
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (4x) Auguste Ottin (2sc).
Gérôme received a 3rd class medal.

1848:
The catalogue mentions 2642 partakers and 5180 numbers (iR1); note: relatively large numbers. It started the 15th of March.
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Cals (7x), Auguste Ottin (1sc) and Tillot (1x).
Diaz received a 1st class medal.

1849:
The catalogue mentions 1425 partakers and 2590 numbers (iR1). This Salon was held in the Palais des Tuilleries and started the 15th of June.
Including the following  partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions: Debras (1x) and Tillot (3x).
Rousseau was accepted again and received a 1st class medal (R59,p103-112;iR1)
Rosa Bonheur received a 1st class medal (iR3;M1*).
Note*: the Salon database indicates that Bonheur received in 1848 a 1st class medal for landscape and animales) (iR1) and that in 1849 she was ‘exempté’ for concurring for a medal (iR1).

 

Sources:
My main source is the Salon database (iR1), added with articles from WikiPedia (iR3).
See for other sources at the bottom of the main page on the Salon.
See link for info on the subscriptions of the images.

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism / other exhibitions: the Salon in the 1840s; info and pictures. Last modified 2025/09/16. https://www.impressionism.nl/salon-1840s/”

 

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.

Please be reluctant, when you quote from this webpage, which is under construction.
The information is incomplete and maybe partly incorrect.