John Russell
How did Vincent van Gogh become one of the most famous artists in the world? The exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum, Vincent's Path to Fame, reveals that his success was far from inevitable. Behind his global fame lies a deeply personal family story about perseverance, belief, and the care with which his legacy was shaped. Today (and for the rest of the Sundays of the month), we present a painting from this show, enjoy!
The Australian painter John Peter Russell became friends with Vincent van Gogh in Paris. In 1886, he painted a realistic and fairly classical portrait of him. Originally, the portrait was not so dark. Research has shown that above Van Gogh’s head, in red paint, are the words: "Vincent, in friendship." According to Archibald Standish Hartrick, another artist and friend, this was the most faithful likeness of Van Gogh. It was more lifelike than his own self-portraits. Van Gogh was very attached to it. Years later, writing to Theo from the psychiatric institution in Saint-Rémy, Vincent said: "Take good care of my portrait by Russell, to which I am so attached."
P.S. Few artists in art history are as instantly recognizable as Vincent van Gogh, largely due to his extraordinary self-portraits.
P.P.S. If you're a true Vincent fan, be sure to explore the Vincent-inspired products in our DailyArt Shop! Perhaps you'd like to learn more about him in our Post-Impressionism 101 online course?