Portrait of Dr. Gachet

Portrait of Dr. Gachet is one of the most famous paintings by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. He painted two versions in June 1890 during the last months of his life. Both paintings are 67 x 56 cm (26" x 22") in size and are oil paintings on canvas.

Related Topics:
Dutch - Vincent van Gogh - 1890 - Oil painting - Canvas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The portraits were painted in Auvers-sur-Oise close to Paris, and depict Doctor Gachet with a foxglove plant. Gachet took care of van Gogh during his last months. Gachet was also a hobby painter and became good friends with van Gogh and indeed he requested that van Gogh paint a second version of the portrait. The foxglove in the painting is a plant from which digitalis is extracted for the treatment of certain heart complaints; the foxglove is thereby an attribute of Gachet.

Related Topics:
Auvers-sur-Oise - Paris - Foxglove - Digitalis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The painting became famous on May 15, 1990, when Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito paid $82.5 million for it at auction in Christie's, New York; this made it the most expensive painting at the time (it has since been surpassed by Picasso's Garçon à la pipe in 2004). Ryoei Saito, who died in 1996, had caused a scandal when he threatened to have the van Gogh painting cremated with him after his death. Saito, 75 years old at the time, the honorary chairman of Daishowa Paper Manufacturing Co., later stated: "What I really wanted to was my wish to preserve the paintings forever." Saito, his aides explained, was using a figure of speech: threatening to torch the oils was just an expression of intense affection for the masterpieces. Later Saito said he would consider giving the paintings to his government or a museum.

Related Topics:
May 15 - 1990 - Japanese businessman - Ryoei Saito - Auction - Christie's - New York - Most expensive painting - Picasso - Garçon à la pipe - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The portrait's interesting history began long before its acquisition by Saito. It was owned by the Stadel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany from 1911 until 1937 when it was confiscated by the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, an arm of the Nazi government that sought to rid pre-war Germany of so-called degenerate art. After being confiscated it came into the possession of Hermann Goring who quickly sold it to a dealer in Amsterdam who in turn sold it to a collector, Siegfried Kramarsky. Karmarsky's family sold the painting to Saito in 1990. The whereabouts of the first version are currently unknown.

Related Topics:
Stadel Museum - Frankfurt - Germany - Nazi - Hermann Goring - Amsterdam - Siegfried Kramarsky

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The story is the subject of a book (Portrait of Dr. Gachet: The Story of a van Gogh Masterpiece, Money, Politics, Collectors, Greed, and Loss.) by Cynthia Saltzman.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The second version of the portrait is currently in Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

Related Topics:
Musée d'Orsay - Paris - France

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~