Paul Durand-Ruel: Memoir of the First Impressionist Art Dealer

by Flavie Durand-Ruel, Paul-Louis Durand-Ruel

Paul Durand-Ruel redefined the role of the art dealer. An exceptional entrepreneur and precursor of the international art market scene, he established a network of galleries between Paris, London, Brussels, and New York, and organized international traveling exhibitions. The first to recognize the talent of the Barbizon School artists and the Impressionists, and confident in his role championing their art, Paul Durand-Ruel was able to establish the careers of ground-breaking artists including Renoir, Monet, Sisley, Berthe Morisot, and Mary Cassatt.
 
Paul Memoirs of the First Impressionist Art Dealer (1831-1922) is a unique and indispensible reference work for those who wish to understand the artistic life and the art market of the nineteenth century. It is a testament to Durand-Ruel’s passion—as a friend and patron of the artists—the promoting the Barbizon School and, later, Impressionism. Retracing his life from 1831 to 1922, the book features more than sixty illustrations including archival documents and reproduction of works of art, a selection of articles and letters, a list of the principal exhibitions and artworks he displayed, as well as a biographical timeline and family tree.

Genres: Art

332 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[Marianne]

The majority of this book seemed to be focused on the galleries and exhibits themselves and not as much on his interaction with the artists, which I would have found more interesting, but kudos to Mr. Durand for almost bankrupting himself TWICE to help support the works of these masters. We likely would have not ever known many of the pieces of art that are so familiar to so many. Great insight on his part, but it seems he was driven to save these artists from starvation and giving up altogether. Very interesting story. And one very generous and passionate man.

[Andrea Engle]

Unerringly visionary, Paul Durand-Ruel, art-dealer and promoter, supported both the Barbizon and the Impressionist Schools of French painting, twice to the brink of bankruptcy, when they were wildly unpopular ... through his unflinching support, these artists gained the value they deserved ... disappointingly, his memoirs mainly examine the commercial aspect of the saga: a record of sales, and prices, and individual artworks (fortunately their French titles are also given in English) ... not the ravishing tale of derring-do one might expect ... yet a small selection of his correspondence is included which opens a window on the true story ...