Salon des artistes francais

Formed by French painters and sculptors in 1881, it took over from the French government the sponsorship of the Annual exhibition, which had the name of The Salon. William-Adolphe Bouguereau was the first president, and he was controversial because of his suggestion that non-established artists be included in the annual show. Bouguereau resigned, and his opponents, in 1891, created a competing entity, the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts. The original Salon kept its name of Salon des Artistes Francais, and the two entities continued annual exhibitions. The exhibition of the Salon des Artistes Francais became known as the Salon de Champs Elysee, and the Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts has the name of Salon of the Champ-de-Mars. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci??t??_des_Artistes_Fran??ais