1. The Salon des Refusés Scandal: In 1863, the Paris Salon rejected the work of several avant-garde artists, including Manet, Monet, and Pissarro. This sparked an uproar among the public and led to the creation of the Salon des Refusés, an independent exhibition that showcased the works of these “rejected” artists. This event marked the beginning of the Impressionist movement.
2. The Manet/Courbet Scandal: In 1866, Manet and Courbet had a public spat over the ownership of a painting. Manet accused Courbet of stealing the painting from him, and the argument quickly became a media sensation. This incident caused a rift between the two artists and damaged the public’s perception of the Impressionist movement.
3. The Monet/Durand-Ruel Scandal: In 1879, Monet accused his art dealer, Paul Durand-Ruel, of withholding payments for his paintings. This scandal caused a rift between the two men and led to a temporary break in their business relationship.
4. The Degas/Renoir Scandal: In 1882, Degas and Renoir had a public dispute over the ownership of a painting. The argument quickly became a media sensation and caused a rift between the two artists. This incident damaged the public’s perception of the Impressionist movement.