The painting fair

The lilacs will soon bloom again around the Moulin de la Galette. Visitors brought by the Olympic Games will not fail to climb the Butte to explore Montmartre. The legendary Montmartre of Bohemian Life, of Louise, even of old Paul de Kock who is still considered a truthful author in distant countries. It is likely that the painting fair will be successful this year.

Do we know, in this regard, that the use of open-air lounges is far from new? It is attributed to an origin that is sometimes Italian, sometimes Spanish. At the time of Velasquez there were such markets in Spain. In the eighteenth century, the Louvre being accessible only to members of the Academy, there was a Youth Salon, without a jury established at Place Dauphine, on Corpus Christi day. The paintings, drawings and engravings were hung on the draperies stretched along the houses and the resting place. They were taken down for the procession parade.

It was there that, in 1728, Chardin exhibited several still lifes including the Ray and the Buffet, his two masterpieces. “It was, assure Chardin's biographers, a revelation. Chardin was advised to apply to the Academy.

It is true that connoisseurs, official painters, masters frequented Place Dauphine, the crust fair of that time.