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LACRIMAE RERVM Gallery

Exhibition

The Great Consolation

So it remains a great consolation to me that the work goes forward rather than back.

To his mother, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, 19 September 1889 · letter 803

The same phrase in Vincent van Gogh’s hand
In Vincent’s hand: letter 803, sheet 1, lines 29–31 · Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, b654 V/1962

Vincent Willem van Gogh 1853–1890

Avenue of Poplars in Autumn
Avenue of Poplars in Autumn, October 1884

Ah! mon cher ami, faire de la peinture ce qu’est déjà avant nous la musique de Berlioz et de Wagner.... un art consolateur pour les coeurs navrés! Il n’y a encore que quelques uns qui comme vous et moi le sentent!!!

Ah, my dear friend, to make of painting what the music of Berlioz and Wagner has already been before us… an art of consolation for broken hearts! There are as yet only a few who feel this as you and I do!!!

To Paul Gauguin, Arles, 21 January 1889 · letter 739

je croirais presque que ces toiles vous diront ce que je ne sais dire en paroles, ce que je vois de sain et de fortifiant dans la campagne.

I would almost believe that these canvases will tell you what I cannot say in words, what I see that is healthy and fortifying in the country.

To Theo and Jo van Gogh, Auvers-sur-Oise, about 10 July 1890 · letter 898
Gallery number
LR 4
Section
Painting
Works
100
Opened
25 November 2008

Appendices · Appendices

  1. ISupplementary materialWhere each work is held: collection, acquisition, inscriptions, exhibitions, literature.
  2. IIIndexEvery work in the exhibition in a single table: dates, catalogue numbers, collections, inventory numbers.
  3. IIIDossier of the principal workAvenue of Poplars in Autumn: letters and autographs, verses copied in his hand, first notices, canvas and frame, provenance, exhibitions, literature.
  4. IVCorrectionsWhat was wrong in the record of the exhibition, and when it was put right; latest correction: 4 October 2026.

Music of the room

Die Ehre Gottes aus der NaturLudwig van Beethoven · sung by Friedrich SchorrBrunswick 10160-A, matrix 12901, 1924

Vincent names Beethoven in a letter to Theo from Saint-Rémy in the same September days of 1889 as the letter to his mother that gave the exhibition its title. Copying Millet, he compares himself to a performer: ‘si telle personne jouera du Beethoven elle y ajoutera son interprétation personelle – en musique et alors surtout pour le chant’: ‘if this or that person plays Beethoven, that person will bring a personal interpretation to it – in music, and then above all in singing’ (letter 805). What he himself heard the letters do not say. Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur, the fourth of six songs on poems by Gellert, op. 48 (1803), is a paraphrase of the nineteenth Psalm: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’

  1. Poplars near Nuenen Poplars near Nuenen1885
  2. Footbridge across a Ditch Footbridge across a DitchAugust–September 1883
  3. The Postman (Joseph-Étienne Roulin) The Postman (Joseph-Étienne Roulin)1889
  4. Loom with Weaver Loom with WeaverApril–May 1884
  5. A View of Arles A View of Arles1889
  6. Ears of Wheat Ears of WheatJune 1890
  7. Moulin de la Galette Moulin de la Galette1886
  8. Peasants Planting Potatoes Peasants Planting Potatoes1884
  9. The Zouave The ZouaveJune 1888
  10. Wheatfield with Crows Wheatfield with Crows1890
  11. The Bedroom at Arles The Bedroom at Arles1889
  12. Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen1884, finished in autumn 1885
  13. The Potato Eaters The Potato Eaters1885
  14. Evening Landscape Evening Landscape1885
  15. Green Wheat Field Green Wheat Field1889
  16. Bridge at Arles (Pont de Langlois) Bridge at Arles (Pont de Langlois)1888
  17. View of a Butcher’s Shop View of a Butcher’s ShopFebruary 1888
  18. Self-Portrait Self-Portrait1889
  19. Farm with Stacks of Peat Farm with Stacks of PeatOctober 1883
  20. Irises Irises1889
  21. Reminiscence of Brabant Reminiscence of BrabantMarch–April 1890
  22. Ploughed Fields (‘The Furrows’) Ploughed Fields (‘The Furrows’)September 1888
  23. Sunflowers SunflowersJanuary 1889
  24. Vegetable Gardens in Montmartre Vegetable Gardens in Montmartre1887
  25. The Siesta The Siesta1889–90
  26. Houses Seen from the Back Houses Seen from the Back1885
  27. The Smoker (Le Fumeur) The Smoker (Le Fumeur)February 1888
  28. Fishing Boats on the Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Fishing Boats on the Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-MerJune 1888
  29. Still Life with Bible Still Life with BibleOctober 1885
  30. Café Table with Absinthe Café Table with Absinthe1887
  31. Terrace of a Café at Night (Place du Forum) Terrace of a Café at Night (Place du Forum)1888
  32. Entrance to the Public Gardens in Arles Entrance to the Public Gardens in Arles1888
  33. Self-Portrait as a Painter Self-Portrait as a Painter1887–88
  34. Landscape at Twilight Landscape at TwilightJune 1890
  35. Flower Beds in Holland Flower Beds in Holland1883
  36. Field with Irises near Arles Field with Irises near Arles1888
  37. The Old Tower in the Fields The Old Tower in the FieldsAugust 1884
  38. Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin1888
  39. The White Orchard The White OrchardApril 1888
  40. Olive Trees Olive Trees1889
  41. Women Picking Olives Women Picking Olives1889
  42. Shoes Shoes1886
  43. Roses Roses1890
  44. Fisherman’s Wife Fisherman’s Wifeearly August 1883
  45. Irises Irises1890
  46. The Olive Trees The Olive Trees1889
  47. The Road Menders The Road Menders1889
  48. Poppies in the Field Poppies in the Field1889