The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters a Review
London’s Royal Academy of Arts is currently running an exhibition called “The Real Vincent van Gogh. It is due to end on the 18th of April 2010. The exhibition includes his paintings and personal letters. Thinking of Vincent Van Gogh brings a lot thing to mind. It could be sunflowers, the missing ear or the tragic suicide that took his life. This exhibition allows you to discover the man behind the legend. It is the first major exhibition in over 40 year to display Van Goghs work to the public. The exhibits displayed include 35 of Van Goghs original letters and more than 60 paintings and drawings. The main items include, Self-portrait as an Artist, The Yellow House from, Vincent’s Chair with His Pipe and Entrance to the Public Park in Arles which were created in 1888 and Still-life: Drawing Board with Onions which was produced in 1889. Van Gogh was also a great letter writer. He would usually write about his artistic pieces and sketches, both in progress and those completed. This exhibition displays these letters are displayed along with the finished work they refer to. Van Gogh’s artwork portrays things such as the function of colour in painting, the cycles of nature, religion, literature and friendship. All this can be discovered at the exhibition. Van Gogh’s ideas about art, nature and literature were unique. They showed pure intelligence and are very original. Van Gogh’s usually wrote letters to his brother Theo who was an art-dealer and sister Wilhelmina. He also wrote to other artists such as Anton van Rappard, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin. Born in Zundert in 1853, Vincent van Gogh started painting at the age 27. During his time he created in excess of 2000 paintings and drawings. He lived a short life, which was tragically lost in 1890 when he shot himself to death.