This article analyses Gerard van Spaendonck’s successful career in Paris in the years between 1769-1822, taking his own actions and reactions to coincidental events as starting points. The network scientist Albert-László Barabási defined success as a collective social reaction to an artist’s perform...

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1. Verfasser:	Jonkman, Mayken (VerfasserIn)
Format:	Artikel
Sprache:	English
Veröffentlicht:	2022
Schlagworte:	Watelet, Claude-Henri > 1718-1786 Spaendonck, Gerardus van > 1746-1822 Geschichte 1769-1822 Erfolg Netzwerk Paris
Zusammenfassung:	This article analyses Gerard van Spaendonck’s successful career in Paris in the years between 1769-1822, taking his own actions and reactions to coincidental events as starting points. The network scientist Albert-László Barabási defined success as a collective social reaction to an artist’s performance which in the case of sustained success grows over time. Therefore Van Spaendonck’s networks and background are studied with particular attention. If Gerard van Spaendonck (1746-1822) had stayed in Tilburg, he would undoubtedly have remained a local painter of shop signs, an anonymous, although accomplished, decorator of cabinets. By travelling to Paris Van Spaendonck created the best possible opportunity to become successful. His choice was a gamble but he was well-equipped to do so as a gentleman’s son with the manners and knowledge of social mores, probably speaking French and a talented young artist with a thorough training in Antwerp. Although no record exists, several Antwerp artists whom Van Spaendonck had met, had probably furnished him with letters of introduction. As a stranger in a foreign city, all he needed was someone to introduce him. His encounter with Claude-Henri Watelet (1718-1786), who actively put his networks in the service of the Dutch artist, was the turning point in Van Spaendonck’s career. Once was launched, he kept on accumulating subsequent achievements, becoming an artist of repute, and even a member of the Académie royale de peinture et sculpture. The French Revolution did nothing to diminish his prestige: on the contrary, Van Spaendonck was appointed one of the original members of the board of the Institut de France. Part of Van Spaendonck’s success can be attributed to coincidence, but it becomes obvious that the artist was aware of various possibilities and chances which he seized to his advantage using his talent as an artist as well as his diplomatic skills to succeed in the French art world. To that end, he also adapted his paintings to reflect the ideologies of those with political power.
Beschreibung:	Illustrationen
ISSN:	0030-672X