Van Gogh in

Musée du Luxembourg

The Musée du Luxembourg was the foremost museum for contemporary art in Paris. On his first visit to the city in May 1873, Vincent went there immediately, and he was impressed by the range of great artworks on show. After moving to Paris in 1875, he visited the Musée du Luxembourg every week, sometimes with his housemate and friend Harry Gladwell. Vincent took Gladwell to see all of his favourite paintings; these included Jules Breton’s Evening, The Blessing of the Wheat in Artois and Calling in the Gleaners, Jean-François Millet’s The Church at Gréville and Louis Cabat’s The Pond at Ville d’Avray.

In 1885, when Vincent was living in Nuenen in the Dutch province of Brabant, far from art and museums, he wrote to his brother:

“I add here, too, that I can sometimes very much long to see the Louvre and the Luxembourg once again, and that sooner or later I really should study the technique and colour of Millet, Delacroix, Corot and others.” Read the complete letter

His wish soon came true. In February 1886, he moved back to Paris, satisfying his longing for visiting the museums.