All sorts of people sell, but often label their
selling activity with different words.
Art market experts and dealers for example, might talk of
the “joys and challenges of representing” or “championing” artists.
“If a patron buys from an artist who needs money (to buy tools, time, food ) the patron then makes himself equal to the artist; he is building art into the world he creates.” - Ezra Pound
Arguably the pioneer
of modern art dealership, the modern selling of Art, was Paul Durand-Ruel. In some respects he could be credited with inventing the profession of modern art dealer. He set up an international network of galleries.
He introduced selling practises which the modern art market accepts as standard. These included:-
He introduced selling practises which the modern art market accepts as standard. These included:-
- gallery lectures,
- illustrated art reviews
- and solo exhibitions.
There is an art show doing a world tour about
the French art dealer and the works he bought, sold and championed.
It has been shown
in Paris , it is now in London at the National Gallery till the end of May and will
move onto the USA afterwards.
His passion , his product, his cause were the
Impressionists - probably one of the best known brands in art.
Art and money for some make uncomfortable bedfellows.
Ben Luke of the London Evening Standard opened his review of
the National Gallery ‘s” Inventing Impressionism” show, suggesting that many ( like himself) prefer to distance their love of art from “the
dirty cash that pays for it”.
Paul Durand-Ruel. “Gambling on Impressionism.
Manet, Monet, Renoir...” was how Musee D’Orsay headlined the exhibition they
held.
The expression “ Impressionism” was really invented by the
artists themselves yet, but for a
salesperson by the name of Paul Durand-Ruel who both sold the concept of
Impressionists and the products - Paul Durand-Ruel.
It is questionable whether Impressionism would have taken
off without the financial support , and
promotional skill of Paul Durand-Ruel.
 |
| Huge photograph at the entrance to the exhibition of on of Paul Durand-Ruel's showrooms. |
If you like the Impressionists I urge you to go. Many of the
paintings are from Private Collections
and American Museums which I had not seen before. If you are in Selling
yourself, you will also find out about an inspiring life. It’s an antidote to the hackneyed saying “ a
good product sells itself.”
 |
| Paul Durand-Ruel |
There’s a lot about selling we can learn from the life of
Paul Durand-Ruel as laid out in this exhibition.
“ I was in short, a bad dealer in paintings, because what I
never liked sold, and what I liked I never managed to sell”
Remember this is from
a man who sold 1,000 Monets, 1,500 Renoirs and 400 Degas !
 |
| Show room: Note the coverage Paris ,New York |
“ Without America I would have been lost, ruined” - Paul Durand -Ruel
“ You were the first to support us and the first to fight
for us”
-Camille Pissaro to Paul
Durand-Ruel 1892
“Without him,” said Monet
we wouldn't have survived.”
 |
| Standing beneath the master dealer |
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