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Unit 1 The Salons of Paris
Reading Comprehension
Today, Paris is well known for its contributions to new and daring art movements.
However, early attempts at experimental art in the city actually faced strong
opposition from the government, which favored art that was of a more classical,
academic nature. Until the late 19th century, the art world of Paris revolved around
the Salon de Paris, a regular exhibition of painting and sculpture sponsored by the
French government. If an artist had any hopes of becoming a great success, it was
imperative that he or she be accepted to the Paris Salon, as this was the only great
form of exposure available at the time.
The Salon of Paris was first opened as a way of exhibiting work from the city's
premier art academy, and was not initially open to the public. This changed over the
years as the exhibition grew to greater prominence, but even as the exhibition
opened to the public and art from outside the school became more frequently
accepted, the Salon maintained a reputation for art that reflected only the
conventional styles taught in art schools. Beginning in 1725, the Salon was held in
the prestigious Louvre Palace, and in 1748 the Salon adopted a system in which
prominent teachers from the art academy judged the works and awarded medals to
the best ones. The judges were extremely selective in what art was to be included in
the exhibition, and their tastes were very conservative in nature. Many rising artist s
who found themselves being rejected year after year complained to the authorities,
who moved to establish the Salon des Refuses, or the ''Salon of Rejects," in which
they allowed some of the art rejected by the Salon to be shown.
-5-
Reading Comprehension
Today, Paris is well known for its contributions to new and daring art movements.
However, early attempts at experimental art in the city actually faced strong
opposition from the government, which favored art that was of a more classical,
academic nature. Until the late 19th century, the art world of Paris revolved around
the Salon de Paris, a regular exhibition of painting and sculpture sponsored by the
French government. If an artist had any hopes of becoming a great success, it was
imperative that he or she be accepted to the Paris Salon, as this was the only great
form of exposure available at the time.
The Salon of Paris was first opened as a way of exhibiting work from the city's
premier art academy, and was not initially open to the public. This changed over the
years as the exhibition grew to greater prominence, but even as the exhibition
opened to the public and art from outside the school became more frequently
accepted, the Salon maintained a reputation for art that reflected only the
conventional styles taught in art schools. Beginning in 1725, the Salon was held in
the prestigious Louvre Palace, and in 1748 the Salon adopted a system in which
prominent teachers from the art academy judged the works and awarded medals to
the best ones. The judges were extremely selective in what art was to be included in
the exhibition, and their tastes were very conservative in nature. Many rising artist s
who found themselves being rejected year after year complained to the authorities,
who moved to establish the Salon des Refuses, or the ''Salon of Rejects," in which
they allowed some of the art rejected by the Salon to be shown.
-5-
