It is hard to imagine a time when Impressionist weren’t popular. In the early 1870s the movement struggled to be accepted. Shunned by the art establishment, they were even lambasted as ‘lunatics’ by one critic. One man, however, recognised their worth from the beginning. Paul Durand-Ruel, an entrepreneurial art dealer from Paris, discovered this group of young artists – including Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir, Sisley, Pissaro – and gambled. Realising the fashionable potential of their derided ‘impressions’ of urban and suburban life, Durand-Ruel dedicated the rest of his life to building an audience for their work – creating the modern art market in the process. Such was his perseverance, Durand-Ruel nearly bankrupted himself twice, before successfully globalising his operation with outposts in London, Brussels and New York, and establishing the one-man show as the international norm for exhibitions. The ‘Impressionists’ – a term first used derogatively by critics – was to become the household name that stands today. ‘Inventing Impressionism’ features 85 masterpieces from the movement, all but one having passed through Durand-Ruel’s hands, including three of Renoir’s famous ‘Dances’ and five from Monet’s ‘Poplars’ series. http://www.chateaudelavalouze.com

Le château de la Valouze est une bâtisse du xixe siècle, située dans la commune de La Roche-Chalais en Dordogne. Le domaine de La Valouze recouvre une ancienne métairie du Marquisat située sur la paroisse de Saint-Michel-de-Rivière. Bâti en 1861 par le baron Gustave Arlot de Saint-Saud, père du comte de Saint-Saud, au milieu d'une propriété de 55 hectares, l'ensemble de la construction présente une symétrie parfaite. Le boisement du parc comprend des espèces exotiques : cyprès chauves, ginkgo biloba, eucalyptus associés aux pins et aux chênes-lièges.

Parking GRATUIT Location du lieu: à partir de 8485 € Wi-Fi GRATUIT info@chateaudelavalouze.com

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