1862 International Exhibition in London

Background. Following the success of the 1851 Great Exhibition, the British Government planned a larger international exhibition to surpass previous events. Originally intended for 1861, the event was delayed due to international conflicts, including the Italian War of Independence and the American Civil War. The resulting 1862 exhibition was held in South Kensington on a site covering 11 hectares, now occupied by museums.

Scale and Content. Officially named the London International Exhibition of Industry and Art, the event was sponsored by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Trade. It featured over 28,000 exhibitors from 36 countries, representing industry, technology, and the arts. Unlike the 1851 exhibition, the 1862 event included a distinctive musical component and an international chess tournament, showcasing advances from the industrial revolution.

Japonisme and Influence. The exhibition played a significant role in the popularity of Japonisme, the influence of Japanese art and design on Western artists following the forced reopening of foreign trade with Japan in 1858. Japanese art and objects appeared for the first time at this event, and many contemporaries were similarly enthused by what they saw there. This exposure contributed to the broader enthusiasm for Japanese art among Western European artists in the nineteenth century.