Van Gogh in
Art Academy
Rue du midi / Zuidstraat 144
The building still exists and still houses the art academy.
Van Gogh in
Art Academy
n early November 1880, Vincent registered for a course in drawing from antiquity at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles. Both the artist Willem Roelofs and the art dealer Tobias Schmidt had advised him to enroll there. Vincent had little interest in doing so, but he wrote to his brother Theo:
“I don’t, however, dismiss the idea of L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts, inasmuch as, for example, I could go there in the evening as long as I’m here, if it’s free or not expensive.” Read the complete letter
It turned out that such education in Brussels was indeed free. And, studying at the art academy would offer Vincent access to a warm, well-lit studio in winter, so he enrolled. On 5 December, he entered a competition, which he sorely lost. He left the academy soon afterward.
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Relevant letters from Vincent
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Paul Fagel
W. Lutjeharms
Bart Moens
Sjraar van Heugten (red.)