Meta-Impressionism / other expos:

Salon de la

Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts

1890 – 1914

Alfred Sisley: 1894, CR823=CCPP947, Le chemin de halage (Le sentier du bord de l'eau) à Sahurs, le soir, Normandie (detail), 80x100, MBA Rouen (HW18;iR1;R396,no947;M12) =SNBA-1895-1144, Le sentier du bord de l’eau à Sahurs (le soir); =GP1897-110; =GP1899-65; =Depeaux sale GP1906/06/01-72. — Alfred Sisley: 1894, CR823=CCPP947, Le chemin de halage (Le sentier du bord de l’eau) à Sahurs, le soir, Normandie (detail), 80×100, MBA Rouen (HW18;iR1;R396,no947;M12) =SNBA-1895-1144, Le sentier du bord de l’eau à Sahurs (le soir); =GP1897-110; =GP1899-65; =Depeaux sale GP1906/06/01-72.

Introduction:
The first Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts was held in 1890 at the Champ-de-Mars in the Palais des Beaux-Arts. The year before a group had split of from the ‘Société des Artistes Français‘. The Salons de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts can be seen as independant group exhibitions and in this sense as one of the successors of the ‘impressionist’ expositions that stopped in 1886. Many partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions (frequently) exhibited at the Salon de la Société des Beaux-Arts, including Sisley. This Salon had a jury, but awarded no medals. Since 1901 it was held at the west wing of the Grand Palais (iR40).
On this page you will find (in the future) overviews of the founders, the ‘associés’ and the ‘impressionist’ partakers.
See the links for an impression of the Salons de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts held in 1890; 1891; 1892; 1893; 1894; 1895; 1896; 1897; 1898; 1899; 1901-1914.

Marcellin Desboutin: 1882, La bonne bête, 65x51, PP Paris (iR195;iR64;iR1;R158,p268+272;M4) =!? SNBA-1890-280, Une bonne bête — Marcellin Desboutin: 1882, La bonne bête, 65×51, PP Paris (iR195;iR64;iR1;R158,p268+272;M4) =!? SNBA-1890-280, Une bonne bête

Alfred Meyer: 1898-99, La Vérité sur l'art décoratif moderne, enamel on wooden box, 18x11, A2023/03/21 (iR11;iR241;iR10;iR1) =!? SNBA-1899-305, Une vitrine, contenant: 2. La vérité sur l'art décoratif moderne; (Encadrement de M. Saint-André de Lignereux) — Alfred Meyer: 1898-99, La Vérité sur l’art décoratif moderne, enamel on wooden box, 18×11, A2023/03/21 (iR11;iR241;iR10;iR1) =!? SNBA-1899-305, Une vitrine, contenant: 2. La vérité sur l’art décoratif moderne; (Encadrement de M. Saint-André de Lignereux)

Eugène Vidal, SNBA-1894- 1149, Portrait de Mme E. V... Maybe??: 18xx, Lady in a Pink Dress and a Green Hat with Plumes, on wood, 32x24, A2016/01/26 (iR13;iR17;iR10;iR1) — Eugène Vidal, SNBA-1894- 1149, Portrait de Mme E. V… Maybe??: 18xx, Lady in a Pink Dress and a Green Hat with Plumes, on wood, 32×24, A2016/01/26 (iR13;iR17;iR10;iR1)

The Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
In 1889 there had been a division between the members of the jury. One part grouped as ‘la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts’ and began to organise their own yearly exhibitions since 1890 at the Champ-de-Mars in the Palais des Beaux-Arts and after 1901 in the Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. Later on it was recognized by the State. (R68,p116). In 1890 Meissonier was the chairman, 1891 onwards Puvis de Chavannes and later Roll and Forain. This Salon had a jury, which was punctillous and rigorously defending traditional aesthetic principles. There were no medals granted.
This Salon wanted to be open, in particular to foreigners and women. Artists could be ‘associé’ (associates) and ‘sociétaires’ (partner / shareholders). (because of disputes) some ‘associés’ had already returned to the Société des Artistes Français. Among them were Brandon, Carolus-Duran, Dagnan-Bouveret and Gervex.
Some sources state that in 1919 the Société National des Beaux-Arts integrated again with the Société des Artistes Français. But, Forain was chairman from 1925-1931.

Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929): 1895, SDbl, The last supper, 322x525, MBA Arras (iR3;iR10;iR127;iR1;R231;R377;M1) =SNBA-1896-365, La Cène =EU-D-1900=535, La Cène (Grand Prix) — Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929): 1895, SDbl, The last supper, 322×525, MBA Arras (iR3;iR10;iR127;iR1;R231;R377;M1) =SNBA-1896-365, La Cène =EU-D-1900=535, La Cène (Grand Prix)

Edouard Brandon, SNBA-1897-175, "Dieu est un", Service du sabbat matin à la synagogue du rite portugais. Maybe?: 1880, La prière de Kippour dans la synagogue Portugaise d'Amsterdam, on panel, 31x55, A2015/06/33 (iR85;iR10;iR13;iR41;iR1;aR4). Compare: SNBA-1897-173, Lecture de Spinoza "Dieu est un". — Edouard Brandon, SNBA-1897-175, “Dieu est un”, Service du sabbat matin à la synagogue du rite portugais. Maybe?: 1880, La prière de Kippour dans la synagogue Portugaise d’Amsterdam, on panel, 31×55, A2015/06/33 (iR85;iR10;iR13;iR41;iR1;aR4). Compare: SNBA-1897-173, Lecture de Spinoza “Dieu est un”.

At first there was no limit to the amount of art-works one could submit. Later on one was allowed to exhibit 6 works. Still artists, like Sisley, regularly exhibited more than 6 works. The average of works that artists did show was between 2 and 3 art-works. In 1890 there were just 546 participants, in 1914 1271. In 1890 there were just 1422 works exhibited, in 1912 2789. In the 1890s the average of partakers was 826 and from 1901-1914 1142. The average of catalogue numbers was respectively 2135 and 2602. (iR1)

Many partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions (that stopped in 1886) exhibited at the salons of the Société National des Beaux-Arts (that started 4 years later in 1890) and often were ‘associé’. The folowing artists exhibited on a regular basis: Boudin, Colin, Desboutin, Lebourg, Meyer, Lepine, J.F. Raffaëlli, Sisley and Vidal. The folowing artists exhibited on a less regular basis: Brandon, Forain, and Redon. The folowing artists exhibited just one time: Cassatt (only in 1898), Gauguin (only in 1891), Vignon (only in 1897). Postumous there were works exhibited of Bureau.
Sources on Impressionism don’t render much attention to the Société National des Beaux-Arts. This is strange, because it is an independent group exhibition, probably also inspired by the independant ‘impressionist’ expositions, and starting just 4 years after the last ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1886. And among the participants were many ‘impressionists’, including the key-Impressionist Alfred Sisley.
Note: in 1861 Louis Martinet, Théophile Gautier and others already had formed a Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (R290,p53).

Armand Guillaumin: 1896, Les rouchers rouges, litho, 43x58, xx (iR10;iR404;iR1) =? SNBA-1897-1862, Marine à A gay (sic) (lithographie); (Appartient à la galerie Vollard) =? London-1898-9, The Red Rock; lithographie en couleurs — Armand Guillaumin: 1896, Les rouchers rouges, litho, 43×58, xx (iR10;iR404;iR1) =? SNBA-1897-1862, Marine à A gay (sic) (lithographie); (Appartient à la galerie Vollard) =? London-1898-9, The Red Rock; lithographie en couleurs

Jean-François Raffaëlli, SNBA1924-1016, Campo San Giovanni E Paolo, Venise (?). Now: 1xxx, The court of Saint John and Paul in Venice (detail), on board, 64x86, A2015/05/07 (iR11;iR14;iR204;iR2;R88) — Jean-François Raffaëlli, SNBA1924-1016, Campo San Giovanni E Paolo, Venise (?). Now: 1xxx, The court of Saint John and Paul in Venice (detail), on board, 64×86, A2015/05/07 (iR11;iR14;iR204;iR2;R88)

Founders of the Société National des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
Who were the founders of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts? Here below you will find (in the future) an overview:

Associé of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
Who were associates of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts? Here below you will find (in the future) an overview:

Vidal was a ‘Sociétaire (au dessin)’ and a ‘Associé à la peinture’ (iR1;aR2).
x

Sociétaire of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
Who were partner / shareholders of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts? Here below you will find (in the future) an overview:

Raffaëlli (iR1)
Vidal was a ‘Sociétaire (au dessin)’ and a ‘Associé à la peinture’ (iR1;aR2).
x

Félix Bracquemond: 1893, Bsupp24, The rainbow, colour litho, 48x63, Metropolitan (iR6;iR35;iR1;R85IIIsupp1897,no24;R73,p11;M23) =!? SNBA-1893-148, L’arc-en-ciel (eau-forte originale); =? SNBA-1907-171-121, L’arc-en-ciel. — Félix Bracquemond: 1893, Bsupp24, The rainbow, colour litho, 48×63, Metropolitan (iR6;iR35;iR1;R85IIIsupp1897,no24;R73,p11;M23) =!? SNBA-1893-148, L’arc-en-ciel (eau-forte originale); =? SNBA-1907-171-121, L’arc-en-ciel.

Gustave Colin, 18xx, The artist's garden in Ciboure, 32x41, A2014/11/14 (iR11;iR46;iRx;iR1) Maybe: SNBA-1908-247, Mon jardin à Ciboure. — Gustave Colin, 18xx, The artist’s garden in Ciboure, 32×41, A2014/11/14 (iR11;iR46;iRx;iR1) Maybe: SNBA-1908-247, Mon jardin à Ciboure.

‘Impressionists’ at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
Which partakers of the ‘impressionist’ expositions did exhibit at the Salons of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts? Here below you will find (in the future) an overview of which painters in what years and with how many art-works:

Boudin: exhibited almost yearly
Brandon: 1892;
Bureau: posthumous
Cassatt: 1898
Colin: exhibited almost yearly
Desboutin: exhibited almost yearly
Forain: was president from 1825 – 1931 (R43,p56+58;R50,p62;R88)
Gauguin: 1891
Guillaumin: 1897
Lebourg: exhibited almost yearly
Lépine: exhibited almost yearly
Meyer: exhibited almost yearly;
Raffaëlli, J.F. : exhibited almost yearly from 1891 till at least 1914; was a ‘Sociétaire’ (iR1;iR14).
Redon:
Sisley: 1890 (6 paintings); 1891 (7); 1892 (7); 1893 (6); 1894 (8); 1895 (8), 1896 (7), 1898 (5)
Vidal: exhibited almost yearly; was a ‘Sociétaire (au dessin)’ and a ‘Associé à la peinture’ (iR1;aR2).
Vignon: 1897

Albert Lebourg: SNBA-1913-746, Bac sur la Seine (matinée) = 1912, SDbl, 1CR1483, Le Bac de la Bouille, le matin, 68x100, A2011/12/01 (iR11;iR10;iR1;iR421;R390,no1483) — Albert Lebourg: SNBA-1913-746, Bac sur la Seine (matinée) = 1912, SDbl, 1CR1483, Le Bac de la Bouille, le matin, 68×100, A2011/12/01 (iR11;iR10;iR1;iR421;R390,no1483)

Albert Lebourg: 1897, SDbl, Vue de Vétheuil, soleil couchant, xx, A2006/02/23 (iR11;iR155;iR1) =!? SNBA-1898- 717, Vue de Vétheuil au soleil couchant

Presidents of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA):
The presidents of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts were:

J.-L.E. Meissonier in 1890;
P. Puvis de Chavannes (1891-1898);
E.-A. Carolus-Duran (1899-1905);
A.P. Roll: from 1906 till at least 1914.
1915-1924: ?
1925-31: Forain, who did partake in 4 of the 8 ‘impressionist’ expositions (R43,p56+58;R50,p62;R88)

Sources:
My main sources are the Salon database, that render the catalogues from 1890-1910, accept that of 1905 (iR1) and also the catalogues gathered by Dugnat & Lobstein (R228). Monneret (1978-81=R88II,p415/6), 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 de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (1890-1910; -/-1905) (iR1/Salon de la Société National des Beaux Arts). Note: in 1900 there was no exhibition (R285,p67). Univie (=iR261) mentions the exhibitions held from 1905-1915, but doesn’t render additional data, for example the 20th exhibition held in 1910: “Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts / XX. Exposition.” In Database of Modern Exhibitions (DoME). European Paintings and Drawings 1905-1915. Last modified Mar 16, 2021. http://exhibitions.univie.ac.at/exhibition/285. On gallica.bnf.fr (=iR40) and archive.org (=iR19) you will find several catalogues illustré. You can find the links on the bottom of the page about the Salon. Here below you will find some catalogues exclusively about the Exposition Nationale des Beaux-Arts (iR19=R340).

Exposition de 1891 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia902706;R340)

Exposition de 1893 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia800709;R340)

Exposition de 1894 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia802702;R340)

Exposition de 1895 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia804506;R340)

Exposition de 1896 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia800700;R340)

Exposition de 1897 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia904502;R340)

Exposition de 1898 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia800407;R340)

Exposition de 1899 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Catalogue illustré. (iR19//ia804608;R340)

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Last modified 2025/03/08. https://www.impressionism.nl/salon-de-la-snba/”

Note: additional info and pictures will follow.