Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts

The Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts was a term under which two French groups of artists united. In the 19th century, French art was characterized by an ongoing struggle between traditionally trained artists supported by politicians and a growing number of artists working individually. The creation of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts marked an end to the hegemony of the Paris Salon, where traditional artists were represented. The Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts represented the breakaway artists who would shape the development of modern art across Europe in the decades to come.