To Theo . , Friday, 13 August 1875.

Friday, 13 August 1875

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: , , inv. no. b42 V/1962

Date: Letter headed: [Paris, le] 13 Aot [187]5.

Additional: Original [1r:1] Goupil & Cie Editeurs Imprimeurs Estampes Franaises & trangres Tableaux Modernes Rue Chaptal, 9, PARIS. Succursales la Haye, Londres, Berlin, New-York. Paris, le 13 Aot 1875 Waarde Theo, Reeds eerder heb ik U willen schrijven. Ik ben blij dat Pa het beroep naar Etten heeft aangenomen;1 in de gegeven omstandigheden vind ik het ook goed dat Willemien met Anna meegaat.3 Ik zou dien Zondag dat gij te Helvoirt waart ook wel bij U allen hebben willen zijn;7 schreef ik U reeds ik dien dag, met Soek en zijne familie, te Ville dAvray was.13 Het

1 After a visit on 29 July to Etten, a village in the west of the province of North Brabant, Mr van Gogh2 agreed to accept the living there (FR b2351, 30 July 1875). 3 Because Etten was not the right place and offered too little for Vincents sister Willemien4, it was decided that for the time being she would spend three months with Anna5 at Welwyn (Hertfordshire), a village north of London, where Anna had been teaching since the end of August 1874 (FR b2715). Willemien herself is pleased with the plan (quoted from FR b2351, written by Mr and Mrs van Gogh6 to Theo). Anna and Willemien left for Welwyn together on Friday, 13 August (FR b2352). 7 On the weekend of 24 and 25 July, Theo had gone to visit his father8 at Helvoirt; Anna9, Lies10, Willemien11 and Cor12 were also there (FR b2350 and b2351). 13 Frans Soek14, a Goupil employee, worked at the place de lOpra branch. The village of Ville-dAvray is south-west of Paris, between Svres and Versailles.

1 2 To Theo van Gogh. Paris, Friday, 13 August 1875. trof mij daar in het kerkje 3 schijen van Corot te vinden.15 Zondag ll. & Zondag voor 14 dagen17 was ik in de kerk bij M. Mercier18 & hoorde Hem over Toutes choses prouveront le bien de ceux qui aiment Dieu22 (in t Hollandsch staat er Hen die God liefhebben zullen alle dingen medewerken ten goede) & over Il fit lhomme son image, 23 t was schoon & groot. Gij moet als gij kunt ook maar iederen Zondag naar de kerk gaan, al is het zoo heel mooi[1r:2] niet; doe dat, gij zult er geen spijt van hebben, zijt gij wel eens bij Ds Zubli geweest.24 Op de lijst van wat ik op mijn kamer heb hangen heb ik nog vergeten: N. Maes La nativit26 Hamon Si jtais lhiver sombre29 Ed. Frre Les couturires36 do Un tonnelier38 Francais Dernier beau jour40 Ruyperez Limitation de Jesus Christ42

15 Around 1849 Corot16 presented the church at Ville-dAvray with the Saint Jerome (1837), and in 1855-1856 he had painted four scenes on the walls of the transept: Adam and Eve being driven out of Paradise ; The baptism of Christ ; Christ on the Mount of Olives and The Magdalen in the desert . Perhaps Van Gogh spoke only of three because The baptism of Christ is not signed. See Robaut 1965, vol. 2, pp. 130-131, no. 366; pp. 338-339, nos. 1074-1077 and Jean Rousseau, Camille Corot. Paris 1884, pp. 55-61. 17 On both 8 August and 1 August. 18 Van Gogh is referring to Eugne Bersier19, who was a minister in the LEtoile quarter, avenue de la Grande Arme (near the Arc de Triomphe). His obituary appeared in the Bulletin Historique et Littraire 38 (1889), pp. 670-672; see also Recueil de souvenirs de la vie dEugne Bersier. Paris (n.d.). Bersier was a well-known figure with a certain reputation, as evidenced by several mentions of his name in the letters of Andries Bonger20, such as Id never heard clarity coupled with so much eloquence (FR b1583, 28 December 1879; also mentioned in b1581 and b1582). On 15 October 1878, Mrs van Gogh21 advised Theo to attend one of Rev. Bersiers sermons (FR b2440). 22 Rom. 8:28. 23 Gen. 1:27; cf. also Gen. 9:6. 24 Everard Ambroise Zubli25 was the minister of the Walloon (French-speaking) congregation in . See Bulletin de la Commission pour lHistoire des Eglises Wallonnes, vol. 1. The Hague 1887, pp. 199-200; F.H. Gagnebin, Liste des glises wallonnes des Pays-Bas et des pasteurs qui les ont desservies tablie daprs les actes originaux. Leiden 1888, p. 31. 26 The etching La crche (The crib) (also known as La nativit (The nativity) and as LAdoration des bergers (The adoration of the shepherds)) by Dominique Vivant-Denon27, after Nicolaes Maes28, Adoration of the shepherds , 1658 (Montreal, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The print was exhibited at the 1795 Salon and was offered for sale in 1873 in the Catalogue des estampes graves par ... Vivant Denon (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1686. See Fizelire 1873, no. 19. 29 Jean Louis Hamon30, Si jtais lhiver sombre (If I were sombre winter), engraved by Leon Mariani31 (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1687. The original work is part of the decorative painting The four seasons , 1850, by Henry Picou32, Jean-Lon Grme33, Gustave Rodolphe Boulanger34 and Jean Louis Hamon35 (The Cleveland Museum of Art). Appearing below the print is a verse from a song: Si jtais lhiver sombre, Que ferais-je, mon Dieu? A tes pauvres dans lombre, Jirais porter du feu... (If I were sombre winter, My God, what would I do? To your poor in the shadow, I would bring some fire). 36 For The seamstresses by Edouard Frre37, see letter 37, n. 20.

38 Regarding A cooper by Edouard Frre39, cf. letter 37, n. 21.

40 Louis-Franois Franais41 made a print after his own Last fine days (Salon 1851); Derniers beaux jours appeared in Les artistes anciens et modernes, vol. 3, no. 73 (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1688. 42 The lithograph La Imitacin de Jesucristo (The imitation of Jesus Christ) by Eugne Louis Pirodon43 after a painting by Luis Ruiprez44 was published in LArtiste. Beaux-Arts et Belles-lettres. NS, vol. 10, 10th instalment (15 November 1860), between p. 232 and 233. Ill. 1689. Cf. Carlos Reyero, Los orgenes del fortunysmo en Pars y la obra de Luis Ruiprez, Boletin del Museo e Instituto Camn Aznar 40 (1990), pp. 5-20, esp. pp. 12-13 and ill. 6. To Theo van Gogh. Paris, Friday, 13 August 1875. 3

Bosboom Cantabimus & Psallemus45 Ik doe mijn best om nog eene gravure Rembrandt, Lecture de la bible47 voor U te vinden, mogelijk zend ik U die dus in de eerste kist schijen . Heb ik u gezonden eene lith. Troyon, effet de matin?49 Franais, derniers beaux jours?52 Zoo niet schrijf mij dit dan; ik heb ze dubbel. En nu, heb het goed, doe wel & zie niet om,53 voorzoover het mogelijk is, & geloof mij steeds Uw liefh. broeder Groet s.v.p. de Hr & Mevr. Tersteeg & Mauve voor mij, ook groeten bij V. Stockum, Haanebeek, Tante Fie,54 Roos, &c. Wat zegt gij van onze Anna?56

Translation [1r:1] [Letterhead: Goupil Paris] Paris, 13 August 1875 My dear Theo, I had wanted to write to you earlier. Im glad that Pa60 has accepted the call to Etten;61 under the circumstances I also think it good that Willemien63 is going along with Anna64.65 Id also have liked to be with all of you that Sunday at Helvoirt;69 have I already told you that I was with

45 Let us sing hymns and psalms. A reproduction after Johannes Bosboom46, A young monk playing the organ , before 1850. Also known as Organ-playing Carmelite. Cantabimus et psallemus (Amsterdam, Amsterdam Museum). In Kunstkronijk 11 (1850), Bosbooms lithograph Cantabimus et psallemus appeared after p. 66 (Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. p778 M/1973). Ill. 1690. According to Bosbooms memoires, written in 1881, Hendrik Sluyter made an engraving of this painting. See exhib. cat. The Hague 1917, p. 13. 47 Regarding Rembrandt48s Reading the Bible , see letter 37, n. 4.

49 If Van Gogh is not referring here to the lithograph Le matin (Morning) (see letter 37, n. 12, where he says he has two of these), he could have meant a print after Troyon50s Oxen on their way to plough (Morning effect), 1855 (Paris, Muse dOrsay). Ill. 1691. A wood engraving made after this work by Guillaume51 appeared with the article Paul Mantz, Artistes contemporains. Troyon, Gazette des Beaux-Arts 7 (1865), vol. 18, p. 399. 52 For Last fine days , see n. 15.

53 A saying which means that he who acts virtuously may have a clear conscience. 54 Sophia Cornelia Elisabeth Carbentus-Van Bemmel55. 56 This remark probably alludes to Anna57s new prospects, since Mr and Mrs van Gogh58 had decided that she should stay in England for another year, apparently after consulting the woman who employed her: Anna received such a very sweet letter from Miss Applegarth59, who offers very generous conditions because she values Anna (FR b2351, 30 July 1875). 60 Theodorus van Gogh (1822-1885) husband of Anna Cornelia van Gogh-Carbentus, father of Vincent, clergyman 61 After a visit on 29 July to Etten, a village in the west of the province of North Brabant, Mr van Gogh62 agreed to accept the living there (FR b2351, 30 July 1875). 63 Willemina (Wil or Willemien) Jacoba van Gogh (1862-1941) sister of Vincent 64 Anna Cornelia van Houten-Van Gogh (1855-1930) sister of Vincent, wife of Joan Marinus van Houten 65 Because Etten was not the right place and offered too little for Vincents sister Willemien66, it was decided that for the time being she would spend three months with Anna67 at Welwyn (Hertfordshire), a village north of London, where Anna had been teaching since the end of August 1874 (FR b2715). Willemien herself is pleased with the plan (quoted from FR b2351, written by Mr and Mrs van Gogh68 to Theo). Anna and Willemien left for Welwyn together on Friday, 13 August (FR b2352). 69 On the weekend of 24 and 25 July, Theo had gone to visit his father70 at Helvoirt; Anna71, Lies72, Willemien73 and Cor74 were also there (FR b2350 and b2351). 4 To Theo van Gogh. Paris, Friday, 13 August 1875.

Soek75 and his family at Ville-dAvray that day?76 I was surprised to find 3 paintings by Corot78 in the church there.79 On Sunday last and Sunday a fortnight ago81 I went to Mr Mercier82s83 church and heard him speak on all things work together for good to them that love God87 (in Dutch it says for those who love God all things will work together for good) and on He created man in his own image,88 it was glorious and grand. You should also go to church every Sunday if you can, even if it isnt so [1r:2] very beautiful; do that, you wont regret it. Have you ever been to hear the Rev. Zubli89?90 In the list of what I have hanging in my room I forgot: N. Maes92 The nativity93 Hamon96 If I were sombre winter97 Ed. Frre104 The seamstresses105 ditto A cooper107

75 Frans Soek (?-1879) employee at Goupil & Cie in Paris 76 Frans Soek77, a Goupil employee, worked at the place de lOpra branch. The village of Ville-dAvray is south-west of Paris, between Svres and Versailles. 78 Jean Baptiste Camille Corot (1796-1875) French artist 79 Around 1849 Corot80 presented the church at Ville-dAvray with the painting Saint Jerome (1837), and in 1855-1856 he had painted four scenes on the walls of the transept: Adam and Eve being driven out of Paradise ; The baptism of Christ ; Christ on the Mount of Olives and The Magdalen in the desert . Perhaps Van Gogh spoke only of three paintings because The baptism of Christ is not signed. See Robaut 1965, vol. 2, pp. 130-131, no. 366; pp. 338-339, nos. 1074-1077 and Jean Rousseau, Camille Corot. Paris 1884, pp. 55-61. 81 On both 8 August and 1 August. 82 Eugne Bersier (1831-1889) clergyman in Paris 83 Van Gogh is referring to Eugne Bersier84, who was a minister in the LEtoile quarter, avenue de la Grande Arme (near the Arc de Triomphe). His obituary appeared in the Bulletin Historique et Littraire 38 (1889), pp. 670-672; see also Recueil de souvenirs de la vie dEugne Bersier. Paris (n.d.). Bersier was a well-known figure with a certain reputation, as evidenced by several mentions of his name in the letters of Andries Bonger85, such as Id never heard clarity coupled with so much eloquence (FR b1583, 28 December 1879; also mentioned in b1581 and b1582). On 15 October 1878, Mrs van Gogh86 advised Theo to attend one of Rev. Bersiers sermons (FR b2440). 87 Rom. 8:28. 88 Gen. 1:27; cf. also Gen. 9:6. 89 Everard Ambroise Zubli (1808/09-1880) clergyman in The Hague 90 Everard Ambroise Zubli91 was the minister of the Walloon (French-speaking) congregation in The Hague. See Bulletin de la Commission pour lHistoire des Eglises Wallonnes, vol. 1. The Hague 1887, pp. 199-200; F.H. Gagnebin, Liste des glises wallonnes des Pays-Bas et des pasteurs qui les ont desservies tablie daprs les actes originaux. Leiden 1888, p. 31. 92 Nicolaes Maes (1632/34-1693) Dutch artist 93 The etching La crche (The crib) (also known as La nativit (The nativity) and as LAdoration des bergers (The adoration of the shepherds)) by Dominique Vivant-Denon94, after Nicolaes Maes95, Adoration of the shepherds , 1658 (Montreal, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The print was exhibited at the 1795 Salon and was offered for sale in 1873 in the Catalogue des estampes graves par ... Vivant Denon (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1686. See Fizelire 1873, no. 19. 96 Jean Louis Hamon (1821-1874) French artist 97 Jean Louis Hamon98, Si jtais lhiver sombre (If I were sombre winter), engraved by Leon Mariani99 (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1687. The original work is part of the decorative painting The four seasons , 1850, by Henry Picou100, Jean-Lon Grme101, Gustave Rodolphe Boulanger102 and Jean Louis Hamon103 (The Cleveland Museum of Art). Appearing below the print is a verse from a song: Si jtais lhiver sombre, Que ferais-je, mon Dieu? A tes pauvres dans lombre, Jirais porter du feu... (If I were sombre winter, My God, what would I do? To your poor in the shadow, I would bring some fire). 104 Edouard Frre (1819-1886) French artist 105 For The seamstresses by Edouard Frre106, see letter 37, n. 20.

107 Regarding A cooper by Edouard Frre108, cf. letter 37, n. 21. To Theo van Gogh. Paris, Friday, 13 August 1875. 5

Franais109 Last fine day110 Ruiprez112 The imitation of Jesus Christ113 Bosboom116 Cantabimus and psallemus117 Im doing my best to find another engraving of Rembrandt119, Reading the Bible120 for you, perhaps Ill be sending it to you in the first crate of paintings. Have I sent you a lithograph of Troyon122, Morning effect?123 Franais126, Last fine days?127 If not, write and tell me; I have two of each. And now, I wish you well, do right and dont look back,128 as much as you can, and believe me ever Your loving brother Vincent Please give my regards to Mr and Mrs Tersteeg129 and Mauve130, also my regards to the Van Stock- ums131, Haanebeeks132, Aunt Fie133,134 Rooses136, &c. What do you think about our Anna137?138

109 Louis-Franois Franais (1814-1897) French artist 110 Louis-Franois Franais111 made a print after his own Last fine days (Salon 1851); Derniers beaux jours appeared in Les artistes anciens et modernes, vol. 3, no. 73 (Paris, BNF, Cabinet des Estampes). Ill. 1688. 112 Luis Ruiprez (1832-1867) Spanish artist 113 The lithograph La Imitacin de Jesucristo (The imitation of Jesus Christ) by Eugne Louis Pirodon114 after a painting by Luis Ruiprez115 was published in LArtiste. Beaux-Arts et Belles-lettres. NS, vol. 10, 10th instalment (15 November 1860), between p. 232 and 233. Ill. 1689. Cf. Carlos Reyero, Los orgenes del fortunysmo en Pars y la obra de Luis Ruiprez, Boletin del Museo e Instituto Camn Aznar 40 (1990), pp. 5-20, esp. pp. 12-13 and ill. 6. 116 Johannes Bosboom (1817-1891) Dutch artist 117 Let us sing hymns and psalms. A reproduction after Johannes Bosboom118, A young monk playing the organ , before 1850. Also known as Organ-playing Carmelite. Cantabimus et psallemus (Amsterdam, Amsterdam Museum). In Kunstkronijk 11 (1850), Bosbooms lithograph Cantabimus et psallemus appeared after p. 66 (Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. p778 M/1973). Ill. 1690. According to Bosbooms memoires, written in 1881, Hendrik Sluyter made an engraving of this painting. See exhib. cat. The Hague 1917, p. 13. 119 Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) Dutch artist 120 Regarding Rembrandt121s Reading the Bible , see letter 37, n. 4.

122 Constant Troyon (1810-1865) French artist 123 If Van Gogh is not referring here to the lithograph Le matin (Morning) (see letter 37, n. 12, where he says he has two of these), he could have meant a print after Troyon124s Oxen on their way to plough (Morning effect), 1855 (Paris, Muse dOrsay). Ill. 1691. A wood engraving made after this work by Guillaume125 appeared with the article Paul Mantz, Artistes contemporains. Troyon, Gazette des Beaux-Arts 7 (1865), vol. 18, p. 399. 126 Louis-Franois Franais (1814-1897) French artist 127 For Last fine days , see n. 15.

128 A saying which means that he who acts virtuously may have a clear conscience. 129 Hermanus Gijsbertus Tersteeg (H.G.T., T. or Mr T.) (1845-1927) art dealer at the Goupil gallery in The Hague 130 (1838-1888) Dutch artist 131 Wilhelmus Petrus van Stockum (1810-1898) father of Willem Jacob van Stockum 132 Carl Adolph Haanebeek (1821-1906) wine merchant in The Hague, father of Caroline van Stockum-Haanebeek 133 Sophie (Fie) Cornelia Elisabeth (Tante Fie) Carbentus-Van Bemmel (Aunt Fie) (1828-1897) wife of Arie Carbentus, brother of Anna van Gogh-Carbentus 134 Sophia Cornelia Elisabeth Carbentus-Van Bemmel135. 136 Willem Marinus Roos (1816-1893) lodging-house keeper in The Hague 137 Anna Cornelia van Houten-Van Gogh (1855-1930) sister of Vincent, wife of Joan Marinus van Houten 138 This remark probably alludes to Anna139s new prospects, since Mr and Mrs van Gogh140 had decided that she should stay in England for another year, apparently after consulting the woman who employed her: Anna received such a very sweet letter from Miss Applegarth141, who offers very generous conditions because she values Anna (FR b2351, 30 July 1875).