Van Gogh in

Art Academy

On 30 May 1875, soon after the death of the painter Camille Corot (1796–1875), Vincent visited the École Nationale des Beaux Arts to see a retrospective exhibition of Corot’s art. The show featured 226 works; Vincent singled out the painting Christ on the mount of Olives, writing that he was grateful that Corot had created the work.

Years later, in 1886, when he was an artist living in Antwerp, Vincent contemplated taking drawing lessons at the Paris Art Academy. Although he did move to the French capital later that year, he studied drawing at Fernand Cormon’s studio and never attended the Academy.