May 16: On This Day in World History … briefly
It depicts Dr Paul Gachet, a homeopathic doctor and artist with whom van Gogh resided following a spell in an asylum at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
1990: Van Gogh painting knocked down for highest price ever
A Japanese businessman paid $82.5 million for a Van Gogh painting at an auction. Paper manufacturer Ryoei Saito was the successful bidder for ‘Portrait of Dr Gachet’ at Christie’s, whose commission was included in the price. It was one of Van Gogh’s last paintings before he shot himself.
Van Gogh wrote to his sister in 1890 about the painting:
‘I’ve done the portrait of Gachet with a melancholy expression, which might well seem like a grimace to those who see it… Sad but gentle, yet clear and intelligent, that is how many portraits ought to be done… There are modern heads that may be looked at for a long time, and that may perhaps be looked back on with longing a hundred years later.’
The portraits of Dr Gachet were completed just six weeks before Van Gogh shot himself and died from his wounds.
Mr Saito did not stop there – apparently he was planning to attend Sotheby’s New York sale the next day as it is said that he had his eye on the superb ‘Dance at Moulin de la Galette’, Renoir’s famous painting of models and artists at a Montmartre dance hall.
Most notable historic snippets or facts extracted from the book ‘On This Day’ first published in 1992 by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, as well as additional supplementary information extracted from Wikipedia.
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