History of the Artist's Resale Right
The Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) has benefited artists in the UK since 2006, following years of sustained campaigning. But the origins of the law stretch much further back to the 19th century.
1857–1859: The Angelus is painted and sold for the first time
French artist Jean‑François Millet paints the famous The Angelus, depicting two peasants pausing work to pray. Like many artists of his time, Millet sells the work relatively cheaply, around 1000 francs, during a time when artists typically relied on one‑off sales rather than ongoing income.
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1875: Millet dies in poverty
Millet dies in 1875 with limited financial security, despite growing interest in his work. His paintings remain in circulation, yet his family receive no benefit from increasingly value of his work.
1889: The Angelus resale sparks public outrage
Fourteen years after Millet’s death, The Angelus is resold at auction for 553,000 francs, making it the most expensive painting sold at auction at the time.
Millet’s heirs were living in poverty and received no financial benefit from this landmark sale. Public outrage in France over this injustice is widely recognised as the catalyst for the Artist’s Resale Right.
1920: Artist’s Resale Right becomes law in France
Just over 30 years later, France introduces ‘droit de suite’ into national law, giving artists and their beneficiaries the legal right to receive a percentage of the resale price when artworks are sold via the art market. Belgium follows suit in 1921.
1926–1970s: International advocacy and slow global uptake
- 1926: CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) is founded and begins championing ARR globally.
- 1948: Article 14ter is added to the Berne Convention, formally recognising ARR but making it optional, leaving enforcement to national governments.
- 1957–1970: Early adoption spreads unevenly across Africa, Asia and South America, with varying levels of enforceability and effectiveness.
1984: DACS is founded
Drawing on SPADEM's example and experience from ArtLaw and the Visual Artists’ Rights Society, artists and lawyers founded the Design & Artists Copyright Society.
1993: The campaign for ARR in the UK begins
Led by an executive committee of artists with support from a legal adviser and a DACS-provided administrator, the Artists’ Campaign for the Resale Right was launched in the UK.
2001: EU Resale Right Directive adopted
The European Union adopts Directive 2001/84/EC, harmonising Artist’s Resale Right across Member States. The Directive is designed to prevent artworks being sold in countries without ARR to avoid paying royalties, and to ensure artists share in the long‑term value of their work.
2006: Artist’s Resale Right comes into force in the UK
The UK becomes one of 21 countries who implement the right across the world, following years of campaigning by artists’ organisations including DACS. Initially, the right applies only to living artists.
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2012: ARR extended to artists’ estates in the UK
The UK extends ARR to apply for 70 years after an artist’s death, aligning it fully with copyright duration and ensuring heirs benefit from resales.
2020: The right turns 100 years old
The new decade marks 100 years since ‘droit de suite’ became law in France. Since then, ARR has been adopted in over 80 countries worldwide, including the EU, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
2024–present: ARR as a modern artist income right
- 2024: ARR is secured in UK law following the departure from the EU, with the move from euros to pounds.
- 2026: The UK marks 20 years of ARR, with over £144 million distributed to artists and estates since 2006, many of them emerging and mid‑career artists. To celebrate, DACS gathered with artists, estates, parliamentarians and professionals from the art industry at the House of Lords.
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