Van Gogh in
Leys hall
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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.
Van Gogh in
Leys hall
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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