Salon de la SdAF

 

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Meta-Impressionism / Salons

Salon

de la

Société des Artistes Français

1880 onwards

 

 

Introduction:
Since 1880 the Salon was organised by the ‘Société des Artistes Français’. 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.

 

The Salon de la Société des Artistes Français (=SdAF):
Since 1880 the Salon was organised by the ‘Société des Artistes Français’ (iR1; note: other sources write this was in 1881 (R88II,p402;R3,p58;iR387). In the past, for 140 years long, the Salon also had been organised by the artists. The state only provided an exhibition room. 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 etchers. The statutes were made 1882/06/15 and approved by the State 1883/04/19. (R88II,p402). From 1884-1891 A.-N. Bailly was the president; from 1892-1894 L. Bonnat; from 1895-1897 E. Detaille; from 1898-1901 J.-P. Laurens; 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).

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 the Institut stayed large, many members of the jury were member of the 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.

 

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.
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.

 

 

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.

 

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Salon de la Société des Artistes Français. Last modified 2023/05/15.  https://www.impressionism.nl/salon-de-la-sdaf/”

Note: additional info will follow.