Paul Durand-Ruel

Paul Durand-Ruel was a visionary figure in the history of art, as much for his talent at discovering and defending young artists as for the manner in which he redefined the role of the professional art dealer. His memoirs were first published in French in 1939 and are now translated for the first time in English with supplemental archival information. They chronicle the emergence of the Impressionists and their controversial rise to success, and provide a first-hand account of how, as patron and promoter, he brought artists such as Degas, Manet, and Millet--whose works are now considered invaluable--to the international stage.