Société des Artistes Français

 

 

Meta-Impressionism / other expos:

Salon de la

Société des Artistes Français

1880 – 1914

Introduction:
Since 1880 the Salon was organised by the ‘Société des Artistes Français’ (=SdAF). In the eyes of many much didn’t change and many still called it ’the Salon’. Still, I think it is good to discern it. Artists could be ‘sociétaire’ and ‘membre’ of the Société des Artistes Français. You will find an overview (in the future) of which ‘impressionist’ was associate and / or member of this Society of French Artists.
See the links for an impression of the Salons de la Société des Artistes Français held in 1880; 1881; 1882; 1883; 1884; 1885; 1886; 1887; 1888; 1889; 1890; 1891; 1892; 1893; 1894; 1895; 1896; 1897; 1898; 1899; 1900; 1901-1914.

 

The Salon de la Société des Artistes Français (=SdAF):
Since 1880 the Salon was organised by the ‘Société des Artistes Français’* (iR1). In the past, for 140 years long, the Salon also had been organised by the artists. The state only provided an exhibition room. Later the state and L’Institut got more influence. Already in 1874/01/14 Chennevières, who was appointed director of Beaux-Arts 1873/12, had suggested that the Salon would be organised by the artists, but it would last another 6 years before it was realised. There was a committee of 90 artists: 50 painters, 20 sculpters, 10 architects and 10 engravers. The statutes were made 1882/06/15 and approved by the State 1883/04/19. (R88II,p402).
Note*: other sources write (wrongly) this was in 1881 (R88II,p402;R3,p58;iR387).

In most sources the Salon is not distinguished from the salons of the Société des Artistes Français. Also several contemporary sources like reviews, don’t make a distinction. Joconde uses the term ‘Salon des artistes français’ as well for the Salon as for the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français (iR23). The influence of  L’Institut stayed large, many members of the jury were member of L’Institut. Still, in 1881 there were many newcomers in the jury. I think it is important to emphasize this independance from the state. And I wonder if the independant group expositions of the ‘impressionists’ reinforced this process to more independance.

Many of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions who had been exhibiting at the Salon, continued exhibiting at the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français.

1855 onwards the Salon and also the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français was held in the ‘Palais de l’Industrie‘ at the Champs Elysées, also mentioned as the ‘Palais des Champs-Élysées’. This was demolished in 1897 to make way for the Grand Palais (;iR3). (iR1;R5,p25). In 1898 + 1899 it was organised in the Palais des Machines. In 1900 in the Place de Breteuil. 1901 onwards in the Palais des Champs-Élysées. (iR1;R337)

 

Sociétaire de la Société des Artistes Français (=SdAF):
Artistes could be ‘Sociétaire de la Société des artistes français’. Sociétaire means associate.
Who of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions were Sociétaires? Here below I will render an overview. Note the Salon database (iR1) only renders just in a few catalogues who was a sociétaire. By lack of other sources, this overview is imcomplete.

Membre de la Société des Artistes Français (=SdAF):
Artistes also could be ‘Membre de la Société des artistes français’. I assume member means a tidier connection than Sociétaire, but maybe it are substitutes. The explication of the Salon of 1901 also mentions a membre perpétuel (R337).
Who of the partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions were members? Here below I will render an overview. Note the Salon database (iR1) only renders just in a few catalogues who was a sociétaire. By lack of other sources, this overview is imcomplete.

President of the Société des Artistes Français (=SdAF):

  • From 1884-1891 A.-N. Bailly was the president;
  • from 1892-1894 L. Bonnat;
  • from 1895-1897 E. Detaille;
  • from 1898-1901 Jean-Paul Laurens (1838-1921);
  • from 1902-1904 W.-A. Bouguereau;
  • from 1905-1907 T. Robert-Fleury;
  • from 1908-1910 H.-P. Nenot;
  • from 1911 till at least 1914 V. Laloux (R285,p67).

 

Sources:
My main sources are: The Salon database, who renders the catalogues from 1880-1905 (iR1). 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.

Online catalogues:
On the Salon database you will find (most of the ) catalogues of the Salon till 1880 (iR1/Salon des artistes français).
On gallica.bnf.fr (=iR40) you will find many catalogues illustré. You can find the links on the bottom of the page about the Salon.
See also at the bottom of the page on the Salon.

 

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Salon de la Société des Artistes Français. Last modified 2025/09/30.  https://www.impressionism.nl/salon-de-la-sdaf/”

Note: additional info will follow.

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