Organised together with the Tate Gallery, The Impressionists in London – French artists in exile, 1870-1904 shows the work of artists that left France during and directly after the Franco-Prussian War and settled in London, with its burgeoning art market…

At the end of the 19th century, the situations in France and England were very different. In France there was the the fall of the Second Empire and the Paris Commune, while England was at the height of its power. In the UK, artists had not only a more comfortable life, they could also benefit from a more vibrant art market, to which they also brought a certain modernity.

Unfortunately, things were not always as rosy as expected, and even French masters like Monet, Sisley and Pissarro sometime found it difficult to seduce art collectors, meaning that living in London was sometimes more of an exile than a pleasure.

The exhibition weaves back and forth between London and Paris with audio accounts of the French artists’ trials and tribulations, illustrated by around a hundred masterpieces.

Linked with the exhibition, a number of events are being organised:

– A 6-hour guided visit(!) with a painter (don’t worry, you get an hour for lunch)

– Other guided visits, including one for the partially sighted and another in English (yay!)

– Hardcore fans can attend three-day workshops ? about etching, painting or water painting

– There’s a ‘voyage to London‘ for 7-12 year-olds, and

– A ‘Swinging London’ concert is being held for the Fête de la Musique ⤵

A catalogue of the exhibition is also available (272 pages, 250 images, 35€ here at amazon.fr)

The exhibition Les Impressionnistes à Londres – Artistes français en exil, 1870-1904 is at the Petit Palais (here) from 21st June – 14th October 2018

Closed Mondays and some public holidays

Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Late night opening Fridays until 9pm

Admission: 13€ / 11€

Website / Facebook / Twitter / #impressionnistesLondres / Instagram