Convincing the public: Louis-Auguste Boileau’s exhibitions and their media coverage

Abstract

In the 19th century, the Salon offered artists a major opportunity to build their reputation. Architect Louis-Auguste Boileau participated nine times between 1849 and 1893, certainly hoping, through his repeated presence, to give visibility to his work. Presenting one’s work in the Salon was nonetheless a risky venture, for while it enhanced the exhibitor’s prominence, it also left them vulnerable to criticism from the public and the press. Strategies were therefore devised to overcome the difficulties of accessing the Salon or to limit the impact of unfavourable opinions. In addition to the Salons, Boileau chose to exhibit his work at home and in a shop. The study of his varied exhibition practices thus sheds light on the processes that contribute to building reputation in the architectural milieu of the second half of the century.