Van Gogh in Provence
Arles, The Van Gogh Foundation In Arles, St Rémy de Provence, St Paul De Mausole, The Room of Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh arrived in Provence on a snowy winter morning and spent over 2 years there, totally beset with mad creativity. He drew his inspiration from the sun, the colours and the spirit of Provence. He had this dream of setting up l'Atelier du sud (the studio of the south) with his friend Paul Gauguin but unfortunately delirium took the better part of him. He cut off his ear and sent it to his friend Rachel, an inmate at the local brothel, and was then taken into a lunatic’s asylum. He spent the most prolific times of his artistic life in his unpretentious room in the "Maison jaune" and in the area around Arles.Download the itinerary: Van Gogh in Provence
Arles
It is impossible to evoke the name and light of Arles without thinking of his paintings. His stay in Arles was the most productive period of his life: the more than 300 paintings and drawings done in his 15 months here form one of the most brilliant chapters in the history of art. Even though there are no original paintings by Van Gogh in the city, the shadow of his presence is everywhere: the Place du Forum for the "Evening Café", the Rhone River quay for the "Starry Night", the Place Lamartine for the "Yellow House"…The Arena and the Alyscamps were also depicted in several paintings.
The Room of Van Gogh
A scenographer and a set designer have worked after the famous painting to recreate the exact setting and particular atmosphere of the room in which Vincent Van Gogh painted his most remarkable paintings. Every little detail has been carefully reproduced in a house only a few steps away from the famous "Maison jaune", the yellow fronted house which was bombed during the war. The whole idea is to recreate the feeling, to fuel the emotion. It is a unique feeling to be in Vincent's room.
The Van Gogh Foundation In Arles
Van Gogh wanted to create a “studio in the South” where he and other painters could live together. The foundation attempts to follow in his footsteps by creating a gallery-studio where contemporary artists can express their homage to Van Gogh.
St Paul De Mausole
Saint Paul de Mausole is famous for having accommodated Vincent Van Gogh from May 1889 to May 1890. He came here by his own decision after having problems with the people of Arles and cutting his ear off. You will see the part where Vincent lived, the cloister, a small chapel and many details seen in is paintings.
St Rémy de Provence
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Saint Remy de Provence on 8th May 1889. He found the quality of light and the ardent beauty of the landscapes around Saint Remy quite fascinating. The beauty of the surroundings and the pleasure of finding a serene and understanding atmosphere surrounded by the nuns and the personnel who took him in were such that, in the space of a year, he had completed more than 150 paintings and numerous sketches. The Saint Remy period is considered to be one of the major periods in the work of Vincent van Gogh.
Recommandations
Best Quality/Price ratio restaurant
L’Apostrophe in Arles
Located right next to the Van Gogh’s Café on the ancient Roman Forum, you will enjoy good food cooked by a local chief on a charming plaza…
Suggestion for your day
The Centre d’Art Presence Vincent van Gogh
The Centre d’Art Presence Vincent van Gogh is located in the Hôtel Estrine and is one of the most important points in Saint Remy de Provence. On the first floor is a permanent tribute to the painter and each year brings an exhibition on a different theme using full size reproductions of his paintings and slide shows. The upper floors hold several exhibitions per year that promote contemporary artists to the international scene.
