In 1863 in Paris, France, the jury for the annual Salon rejected two thirds of the painters who had presented work for adjudication into the prestigious Salon. The list of the refused included Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, Antoine Chintreuil, James McNeill Whistler, and Johan Jongkind. The rejected artists, their patrons, and supporters protested until they reached the ears of Emperor Napoleon III.

 

“Numerous complaints have come to the Emperor on the subject of the works of art which were refused by the jury of the Exposition. His Majesty, wishing to let the public judge the legitimacy of these complaints, has decided that the works of art which were refused should be displayed…”

 

The critical attention legitimized the emerging avant-garde, and the Impressionists exhibited their work outside of the Salon from 1874 onwards, and the status of the Paris Salon began its decline. 

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We have some entertaining, heartless, and kind rejection letters to accompany this exhibition, and many of these artists have had defining moments in their careers as a result of their rejections (including the owner of Artful : The Gallery) Join us to celebrate with our rejections at the Salon des Refusés!