Two Van Gogh paintings, created during his hospital stay in Arles, will be shown in London for the first time at the Courtauld Gallery from February 14 to May 26. The works are on loan from the Oskar Reinhart collection and are part of a larger exhibition featuring masterpieces from various artists. The gallery safely reopened after avoiding a fire incident last year.
Two Vincent van Gogh paintings, created shortly after he mutilated his ear, will be displayed in London for the first time. The works, titled The Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles and The Ward in the Hospital at Arles, will be showcased at the Courtauld Gallery starting next month. These paintings are the only pieces from his stay at the Arles hospital in southern France.
Acquired in the 1920s by Swiss collector Oskar Reinhart, the paintings became part of his extensive collection in Winterthur. Following Reinhart’s death, the collection was largely prohibited from lending out. With the museum temporarily closed for renovation, these two Van Gogh pieces will be loaned for the exhibition Goya to Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection, running from February 14 to May 26.
The paintings were created in late April 1889 while Van Gogh was hospitalised but allowed to paint during the day. The exhibition will also include significant works from artists preceding the Impressionists, like Goya’s Still Life With Three Salmon Steaks and Courbet’s The Hammock.
The Courtauld Gallery narrowly avoided a fire last year that affected the Somerset House complex but reopened shortly after. The gallery is known for its impressive Van Gogh collection, including his 1889 self-portrait featuring the bandaged ear.
This exhibition marks a significant opportunity for the Courtauld Gallery to display Van Gogh’s work, particularly since The Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles and The Ward in the Hospital at Arles are uniquely tied to the artist’s turbulent mental state during his hospitalisation in 1889. These works highlight a critical period in Van Gogh’s life, reflecting his emotional struggles and artistic evolution. The collaboration between the Courtauld and the Reinhart collection underscores the importance of cultural exchange in making rare artworks accessible to the public.
The upcoming exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery represents the first public display in London of two notable Van Gogh paintings. This event not only showcases the artist’s unique works from a pivotal moment in his life but also contributes to broader artistic narratives involving prominent predecessors. The collaboration reflects the ongoing efforts to share art collections with a wider audience, despite restrictions on lending in recent years.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com