ABSTRACT
Paris's constant flux of artistic figures provided a wide selection of influences from which artists could draw. In the spring of 1859, ambitious artists throughout Paris busied themselves in preparing submissions to the biannual Salon. The artists of the Societe knew that in Paris, the Salon was the place to exhibit; this is where standards were set and careers could be launched. As artists incorporated a wider variety of inspiration into their work, it was natural that their subjects and styles would increasingly diverge. In spite of an overarching emphasis on Rembrandt, there were other artists of the Golden Age of Dutch art in whose style and subject matter the Societe saw admirable, imitable qualities, including Gerard ter Borch. The commonalities of influence shared by the trio extended beyond the Dutch traditions to include other artists, specifically their contemporary Gustave Courbet and Spanish painter Diego Velazquez.
