Documents associated with: Dubois, Paul
Record 2 of 2
System Number: 05936
Date: [November/December 1896][1]
Author: Filippo Grimani[2]
Place: Venice
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler V25
Document Type: PL
[arms of Venice:] ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZIONALE ARTISTICA VENEZIA
Second International Art Exhibition
of the City of Venice
April 22d - October 31st 1897.
Sir,
The first international art exhibition promoted in 1895 by the city of Venice to the effect of laying before the public a selection of true and serious works of art, has obtained, both as regards artistic and financial results, the best success that its promoters could expect. - The amount of prizes reached 47.000 l. It. and that of sales 360.000. -
In consideration of these happy results, the Municipal Council has lately, by unanimous suffrage, proclaimed the opening of the Second Biennial Exhibition, to take place in 1897.
Having constantly in view the object of making of this old and glorious seat of art a centre of attraction to which might converge and find a genial stand the best works [p. 2] that modern genius can produce, it was deliberated to invite some among the most prominent artists of Italy and foreign countries to come and help our enterprise with their contribution.
We are pleased therefore to address to you a similar invitation, by which, as you are aware, the artists, so invited, are not submitted to the jury of admittance, and their works are free from any charge for freight to and from, for the unpacking and repacking of them. The amount of prizes to be awarded will not be less than 40.000 l. It.
You will doubtless be satisfied to learn that this exhibition is placed under the patronage of the following illustrious persons:
America:[3] J. S. Sargent - Austria-Hungary:[4] M. Munkacsy, L. Passini, C. Van Haanen - Belgium:[5] F. Courtens, C. Van Der Stappen - Denmark:[6] P. Kroyer - England:[7] L. Alma Tadema, E. Burne Jones, H. Herkomer, J. E. Millais, W. Q. Orchardson - France:[8] E. A. Carolus-Duran, P. A. Dagnan Bouveret, P. Dubois, E. Fremiet, J. J. Henner, G. Moreau, P. Puvis De Chavannes - Germany:[9] R. Begas, M. Klinger, F. Lenbach, M. Liebermann, G. Schônleber, F. Von Uhde, A. Von Werner - Holland:[10] J. H. L. De Haas, J. Israels, H. W. Mesdag - Italy:[11] F. Carcano, E. Gallori, C. Maccari, F. P. Michetti, G. Monteverde, A. Pasini - Norway:[12] E. Peterssen - Russia:[13] M. Antocolsky, I. J. Repin - Spain:[14] J. Benlliure, J. Jimenez Aranda, F. Pradilla, J. Sorolla, J. Villegas - Sweden:[15] A. Zorn - Switzerland:[16] A. Bôcklin.
[p. 3] The signification of such names and your most valuable contribution, added to that of other eminent artists, to whom also we have applied, shall be, we trust, a secure omen of success in favour of an enterprise that is inspired only by an elevated and austere idea of art, to which we shall never fail to devote ourselves with all our soul.
And now, as steps are already being taken for the needful arrangements of this show, we shall be extremely obliged if you will kindly hasten to return to us the enclosed schedula properly dated and signed.
Awaiting the pleasure of a favourable reply, we beg, sir, to remain,
yours very respectfully:
The President
Filippo Grimani, Mayor Of Venice.
The Managing Committee[17]
P. Molmenti, President - B. Bezzi - G. Ciardi - A. Dal Zotto
P. Fragiacomo - E. Marsili - R. Selvatico - A. Sezanne - A. Zezzos.
The Secretary
Prof. A. Fradeletto[18].
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [November/December 1896]
The exhibition organisers of the Venice Biennale planned exhibits in 1896 for the 2nd Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte della Città di Venezia,Venice, 1897.
2. Filippo Grimani
Comte Filippo Grimani (1850-1921), Mayor of Venice, President of the Internation Art Exhibition of the City of Venice [more].
3. America:
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), artist [more].
4. Austria-Hungary:
Mihaly ('Michael') von Munkacsy (1844-1909), alias 'Leo Lieb', painter [more]; Ludwig Johann Passini (1832-1903), artist [more]; and Cecil Van Haanen (1844-ca.1873), genre painter [more].
5. Belgium:
Baron Frans Courtens (1854-1943), landscape painter [more]; and Charles Van der Stappen (1843-1910), sculptor, medal maker and decorator [more].
6. Denmark:
Peter Severin Kroyer (1851-1909), painter, engraver and sculptor [more].
7. England:
Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), painter [more]; Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898), painter and designer [more]; Hubert von Herkomer (1849-1914), painter [more]; John Everett Millais (1829-1896), artist [more]; and William Quiller Orchardson (1832-1910), genre and portrait painter [more].
8. France:
Émile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (1837-1917), painter [more]; Pascal-Adolphe-Jean Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929), naturalist painter [more]; Paul Dubois (1829-1905), painter and sculptor [more]; Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910), sculptor [more]; Jean-Jacques Henner (1829-1905), history and portrait painter [more]; Gustave Moreau (1826-1898), Symbolist painter [more]; Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898), painter [more].
9. Germany:
Reinhold Begas (1831-1911), sculptor and painter [more]; Professor Max Klinger (1857-1920), history and genre painter, sculptor and engraver [more]; Franz-Seraph von Lenbach (1836-1904), historical and portrait painter [more]; Max Liebermann (1847-1935), genre and landscape painter and etcher [more]; Gustav Schönleber (1851-1917), landscape, architecture and marine painter [more]; Professor Friedrich Von Uhde (1848-1911), history and genre painter [more]; and Anton Alexander Von Werner (1843-1915), portrait and history painter [more].
10. Holland:
Johannes-Hubertus-Leonardus de Haas (1832-1908), animal painter and printmaker [more]; Jozef Israëls (1824-1911), painter and printmaker [more]; and Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915), painter and collector [more].
11. Italy:
Filippo Carcano (1840-1910), painter [more]; Emilio Gallori (1846-1924), sculptor [more]; Cesare Maccari (1840-1919), history and genre painter [more]; Francesco Paolo Michetti (1851-1929), painter and engraver [more]; Giulio Monteverde (1837-1917), sculptor [more]; and Alberto Pasini (1826-1899), genre and landscape painter and lithographer [more].
12. Norway:
Eilif Peterssen (1852-1928), painter of landscape, historical and biblical subjects [more].
13. Russia:
Markus Antokolski (1843-1902), sculptor [more]; and Il'ya Repin (1844-1930), genre and history painter [more].
14. Spain:
Jose Benlliure y Gil (1855-1937), painter [more]; Jose-Jimenez Aranda (1837-1903), painter and illustrator [more]; Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz (1848-1921), painter [more]; Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923), genre and marine painter [more]; and José Villegas y Cordero (1848-1922), painter [more].
15. Sweden:
Anders Leonard Zorn (1860-1920), painter, etcher and sculptor [more].
16. Switzerland:
Arnold Böcklin or Boecklin (1827-1901), painter and sculptor [more].
17. The Managing Committee
Pompeo (or Prospero) Molmenti (1819-1894), painter [more]; Bartolomeo Bezzi (1851-1925), painter [more]; Guglielmo Ciardi (1843-1917), genre, landscape and marine painter [more]; Antonio Da Zotto (1841-1918), sculptor [more]; Pietro Fragiacomo (1856-1922), genre and landscape painter [more]; Emilio Marsili (1841-1926), sculptor [more]; Riccardo Selvatico (1850-1901), poet and Mayor of Venice [more]; Augusto Sezanne (1856-1935), architect, painter and engraver [more]; and Alessandro Zezzos (1848-1914), genre painter and watercolourist [more].
18. Prof. A. Fradeletto
Antonio Fradeletto (1858-1930), literary historian, art critic and writer, radical politician, and general secretary of the Venice Biennale [more]. See also his letter, in which he asks JW to form part of the 'Committee of Patronage', #05939.