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Statiestraat 12
Leys’ mansion no longer exists. The 6.5-metre-long La promenade sur les remparts was moved to the Antwerp city hall (Grote Markt 1) in 1897. It still hangs there today and can be seen on tours of the building.
- 25 Nov. 1885 1885
In 1883, a few years before going to Antwerp, Vincent had proclaimed La promenade sur les remparts by the Flemish artist Hendrik (Henri) Leys (1815–1869) to be one of the loveliest paintings he knew. When he arrived in Antwerp, he almost immediately visited Leys’ mansion, where the work was on display.
Although Vincent looked forward to seeing the painting, it proved to be a bit of a disappointment. He had expected its composition to be different and he disliked its colours. The room was poorly illuminated that day, and he tipped the bonne to light the chandelier so he could see better. In spite of his disappointment, he deemed the figures “superbly” rendered. Vincent saw a timeless sentiment in Leys’ paintings.
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Guido Persoons
Vincent van Gogh te Antwerpen in 1885-1886 : zijn opleiding in de Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten te Antwerpen als bijdrage tot de vorming van zijn kunstenaarschapIn: Periscoop, Vriendenkring van de Koninklijke Academie, 14-1 (1990)Mark Tralbaut
Van Gogh te AntwerpenAntwerpen, 1958Louis van Tilborg en Ella Hendriks
Vincent van Gogh schilderijen, deel 2: Antwerpen en ParijsAmsterdam, 2011Ella Hendriks en Louis van Tilborgh
New views on Van Gogh’s development in Antwerp and Paris: an integrated art historical and technical study of his paintings in the Van Gogh MuseumUniversiteit van Amsterdam, proefschrift, 2006Marije Vellekoop, Sjraar van Heugten
Vincent van Gogh tekeningen, deel 3: Antwerpen en Parijs 1885 – 1888Amsterdam, 2001
