Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VINCENT
It's easy to forget that Vincent van Gogh was only 37 when he died, as he appears much older in some of his self-
portraits. Born in 1853, the Dutch painter arrived in Arles in 1888 after living in Paris with his younger brother
Theo, an art dealer who financially supported Vincent from his own modest income. In Paris he had become ac-
quainted with seminal artists Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin.
Revelling in Arles' intense light and bright colours, Van Gogh painted with a burning fervour, unfazed by howl-
ing mistrals. During a mistral he would kneel on his canvases and paint horizontally, or lash his easel to iron
stakes driven deep into the ground. He sent paintings to Theo for him to try to sell, and dreamed of founding an
artists' colony here, but only Gauguin followed up his invitation. Their differing artistic approaches (Gauguin be-
lieved in painting from imagination, Van Gogh in painting what he saw) and their artistic temperaments came to a
head with the argument in December 1888 that led to Van Gogh lopping off part of his own ear.
In May 1889 Van Gogh voluntarily entered an asylum, Monastère St-Paul de Mausole (
Click here
)
in St-Rémy
de Provence. During his one year, one week, and one day's confinement he painted 150-odd canvases, including
masterpieces like
Starry Night
(not to be confused with
Starry Night over the Rhône
, painted in Arles).
In February 1890 his 1888 Arles-painted work
The Red Vines
was bought by Anne Boch, sister of his friend
Eugene Boch, for 400 francs (around €50 today) - the only painting he sold in his lifetime. It now hangs in the
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.
On 16 May 1890 Van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, just outside Paris, to be closer to Theo. But on 27 July
that year he shot himself and died two days later with Theo at his side. Theo subsequently had a breakdown, was
committed and died, aged 33, just six months after Vincent. Less than a decade later, Van Gogh's talent started to
achieve recognition, with major museums acquiring his work.
Van Gogh Sights
Though he painted 200-odd canvases in Arles, there are no Van Gogh artworks here
today; and Van Gogh's little 'yellow house' on place Lamartine, which he painted in
1888, was destroyed during WWII. Nevertheless, there are several ways to pay homage to
the master.
Van Gogh Walking Tour
Mapped out in a tourist-office brochure (€1 or download it free online), this evocative
walking circuit of the city takes in scenes painted by Van Gogh.
WALKING TOUR
Fondation Vincent Van Gogh
( 04 90 49 94 04;
www.fondationvangogharles-blog.com
;
5 place Honoré Clair; adult/
child €6/free;
GALLERY
10am-7pm)
This newly renovated gallery houses rotating exhibits and a
