After last-minute cancellation in 2020 and postponements of its original spring dates in March this year, the Salon du Dessin, France’s specialist fair for works on paper, is scheduled to open next month on July 1-4.
It will be staged at its usual home, the Palais Brongniart in the Bourse district of Paris.
This is the 30th anniversary of the longstanding fair and 33 exhibitors will be attending in person. The majority come from Paris but some are also arriving from other European countries: Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK, as well as Rosenberg & Co from New York.
“We are grateful that dealers have stuck with us despite the numerous obstacles and we are delighted that they are so eager to participate in the fair,” says Salon president Louis de Bayser.
A new exhibitor at the Salon du Dessin is Benjamin Peronnet from Paris who is taking this profile portrait of the head of a young man by the French artist Pierre-Paul Prud’hon (1758-1823). The 8 x 7in (20 x 18cm) work in chalk on blue paper is priced at €70,000. Image copyright: Benjamin Peronnet
The physical event will be complemented by an online version. This allows galleries that have not been able to travel to the fair to take part: nine dealers will have an online presence where each – like the other exhibitors – can show up to 15 pre-vetted works. They include Stephen Ongpin from London, Martin Moeller from Hamburg and Jill Newhouse Gallery from New York.
Internet users will be able to contact dealers directly and can also make appointments with a member of the fair’s team for a video conference.
The Salon will offer its usual wide-ranging mix of works on paper spanning Old Master drawings, 19th century and modern works. A small taste of what will be on offer is previewed here.
A loan exhibition is being staged, devoted to graphic works. This features around 40 examples spanning the 15th to 19th centuries on the theme of ‘Aspects of Nature’ from three of Marseille’s museums: the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille; the Musée Grobet-Labadié and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode.
The Salon opening, by invitation only and with a reservation required, will take place simultaneously at the Palais Brongniart and online on Wednesday, June 30.
