Vincent van Gogh WAS recognised in his life with Paris exhibition

Vincent van Gogh WAS recognised in his lifetime: Letter reveals French president was ‘rather amazed’ by Paris exhibition showing the Dutch painter’s work just months before his suicide

  • A letter from van Gogh’s brother Theo reveals the head of state was impressed
  • Ten of the Dutch painter’s works were on display at the major Paris exhibition
  • The researcher hopes the discovery will address the ‘myth that he was ignored’ 

Vincent van Gogh gained significant recognition in his lifetime and had his work viewed by the President of France, it has emerged. 

The Dutch painter is widely regarded as a tragic figure whose masterpieces were never appreciated until after his suicide at the age of 37.

But a letter from his brother Theo which has recently been discovered reveals that then-head of state Sadi Carnot was ‘rather amazed’ by an exhibition he attended in Paris just months before van Gogh’s death. 

Ten of van Gogh’s works were apparently on display in a discovery which the researcher hopes will address the ‘myth that Van Gogh was ignored’, the Daily Telegraph reports. 


Vincent van Gogh, pictured left in a self-portrait with a bandaged ear, had his work viewed by the President of France, a letter from his brother Theo, pictured right, has revealed 

Theo van Gogh had reportedly visited the Salon des Indépendants exhibition where the French president said the artist’s works were ‘well placed’ on the walls. 

Author and curator Martin Bailey, who found the letter, said: ‘I have long suspected it was a myth that Van Gogh was ignored.


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‘The Salon des Indepéndants exhibition and the visit by the French president suggests that he was beginning to win some acceptance.

‘Once one sees Van Gogh as an artist who was beginning to become appreciated, it is easier to understand why his work had such an influence on the artists to come.’ 

A newly-revealed letter indicates that van Gogh’s work was gaining recognition during his lifetime and was viewed by the President of France (pictured: his work Cypresses)

The works on display included ‘Cypresses’, an 1889 work now held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

A report in a Paris newspaper at the time also mentions the French president being impressed with his visit to the exhibition.   

Born on March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, van Gogh painted work which was notable for its beauty, emotion and color.

His most famous works include Sunflowers, Starry Night, Irises, Bedroom in Arles and his many self-portraits. 

After struggling with mental illness and poverty throughout his life van Gogh died in France on July 29, 1890 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He also became well known for allegedly severing his own ear although some historians believe it may have happened during an argument with another artist.  

In further correspondence with his brother Theo he said he ‘loved London’ after spending three years in England as a young trainee art dealer.

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