Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau: Acceptance in the Paris Salon

Elizabeth Gardner's Calling Card, 1870

"In 1868, ten Americans exhibited at the Salon, two of these were women: Elizabeth Gardner and Mary Stevenson Cassatt. When Elizabeth Gardner's first two Salon entries 'Les Trois Amis' and 'Nature morte, raisins, etc.' were accepted, she proudly described her success in the submission and acceptance process in a letter to her sister:

'I had sent two original pictures to the annual Paris exhibition. Twelve of the first artists are chosen as judges. They look over the pictures and decide whether or not they shall be hung in the Salon. It is very difficult for young aspirants to be accepted, especially on their first trial, and I had never sent before. We were kept waiting six weeks. One after another of my friends were written to that their pictures were refused. There were 800 unfortunates in all but when the exhibition opened, both of mine were hung in full view among the accepted. I did want to get one admitted but had not dared to hope for both. I know you will all be glad for me. It gives me at once a position among foreign artists and raises the value of what I paint. I have just received $400 in gold for one of the pictures, and have spent it nearly all for curious things to paint.'

Later, she recalled the early years and gave the following description of those works:

'I sent two small canvases (to the Salon), nothing very tragic in subject. One was a canary-bird picking at grapes; the other, a young girl with bird and dog. Both paintings were accepted, to my great delight. They were well hung, but to my dismay were in the big room then called in derision 'The Omnibus.' However, I at once sold the 'Child and Dog' for a good price, most useful in my quite empty purse. The other I have kept myself as my first exhibition painting. I had seen Rosa Bonheur's first little picture kept by her family, and in this, as in donning boy's costume, I imitated her, for she was the deity I then worshipped.'

This acceptance also meant that not only her name and her teacher's name were listed in the Salon catalogue, but also her address, which would allow prospective buyers to get in touch with her."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Elizabeth Jane Gardner: Her Life, Her Work, Her Letters," MA Thesis by Charles Pearo, McGill University, 1997.)