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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. Loom with Weaver Loom with WeaverApril–May 1884
  2. Poppies in the Field Poppies in the Field1889
  3. Houses Seen from the Back Houses Seen from the Back1885
  4. First Steps, after Millet First Steps, after Millet1890
  5. The Starry Night The Starry Night1889
  6. Starry Night over the Rhône Starry Night over the RhôneSeptember 1888
  7. Moulin de la Galette Moulin de la Galette1886
  8. Country Road in Provence by Night Country Road in Provence by Night1890
  9. Irises Irises1889
  10. Women on the Peat Moor Women on the Peat MoorOctober 1883
  11. The White Orchard The White OrchardApril 1888
  12. Green Wheat Field Green Wheat Field1889
  13. Street and Stairs with Five Figures Street and Stairs with Five Figures1890
  14. The Red Vineyard: Montmajour The Red Vineyard: Montmajour1888
  15. The De Ruijterkade in Amsterdam The De Ruijterkade in AmsterdamOctober 1885
  16. The Cottage The CottageMay 1885
  17. Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette1886
  18. Evening Landscape Evening Landscape1885
  19. Women Picking Olives Women Picking Olives1889
  20. The Green Vineyard The Green Vineyardabout 3 October 1888
  21. Ploughed Fields (‘The Furrows’) Ploughed Fields (‘The Furrows’)September 1888
  22. The Church at Auvers The Church at Auvers1890
  23. Poplars near Nuenen Poplars near Nuenen1885
  24. The Road Menders The Road Menders1889
  25. Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear1889
  26. L’Arlésienne (Portrait of Madame Ginoux) L’Arlésienne (Portrait of Madame Ginoux)1890
  27. Footbridge across a Ditch Footbridge across a DitchAugust–September 1883
  28. The Green Wheatfield behind the Asylum The Green Wheatfield behind the Asylum1889
  29. Pine Trees at Sunset Pine Trees at SunsetDecember 1889
  30. Portrait of Dr Gachet Portrait of Dr GachetJune 1890

  31. Principal work of the exhibition

    Avenue of Poplars in Autumn Avenue of Poplars in AutumnOctober 1884
  32. Portrait of Trabuc, an Attendant at Saint Paul’s Hospital Portrait of Trabuc, an Attendant at Saint Paul’s Hospital1889
  33. View from Vincent’s Studio View from Vincent’s StudioJune 1886
  34. Wheat Field with Reaper and Sun Wheat Field with Reaper and SunJune–September 1889
  35. The Olive Trees The Olive Trees1889
  36. Fisherman’s Wife Fisherman’s Wifeearly August 1883
  37. The Old Church Tower at Nuenen (‘The Peasants’ Churchyard’) The Old Church Tower at Nuenen (‘The Peasants’ Churchyard’)May–June 1885
  38. Café Table with Absinthe Café Table with Absinthe1887
  39. View of the Sea at Scheveningen View of the Sea at ScheveningenAugust 1882
  40. The Prison Court-Yard The Prison Court-Yard1890
  41. Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin1888
  42. Reminiscence of Brabant Reminiscence of BrabantMarch–April 1890
  43. La Berceuse (Woman Rocking a Cradle; Augustine-Alix Pellicot Roulin, 1851–1930) La Berceuse (Woman Rocking a Cradle; Augustine-Alix Pellicot Roulin, 1851–1930)1889
  44. A View of Arles A View of Arles1889
  45. Irises Irises1890
  46. Olive Trees Olive Trees1889
  47. Portrait of an Old Man Portrait of an Old ManDecember 1885
  48. Entrance to the Public Gardens in Arles Entrance to the Public Gardens in Arles1888