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Van Gogh’s Finale is a definitive account of the final days of the artist’s life and the incredible story of what followed.
List of contents
Preface
Prologue: Interlude in Paris
part i: 74 paintings in 70 days
1. First Impressions
2. The Eclectic Doctor
3. Nests
4. Into the Landscape
5. Portrait of Dr Gachet
6. Family Visit
7. Vast Wheatfields
8. Bouquets
9. Portraits
10. Gauguin’s Tropical Dream
11. Day Trip to Paris
12. Double Squares
13. Last Picture
part ii: the end
14. Shot
15. Final Hours
16. Funeral
17. Suicide or Murder
18. Theo’s Tragedy
part iii: fame & fortunes
19. Birth of a Legend
20. Father and Son
21. Fake?
22. Hidden Portrait
23. Pilgrims to the Inn
24. Today
On the Trail of Van Gogh
Chronology
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Picture Credits
About the author
MARTIN BAILEY is a leading specialist on Van Gogh and an arts journalist. He is a London-based correspondent for The Art Newspaper. Bailey has curated several exhibitions on Van Gogh including one at Tate Britain in 2019. His books include The Sunflowers Are Mine: The Story of Van Gogh's Masterpiece, Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence, Starry Night: Van Gogh at the Asylum and Van Gogh's Finale: Auvers and the Artist's Rise to Fame.
Summary
A captivating and definitive account of the final days of Van Gogh's life and the incredible story of what followed.
Divided into three parts, the book first examines the eventful days from the artists’ departure from the asylum in Saint-Remy and arrival in Auvers until the shooting which brought his life to an end. During this time Van Gogh completed 70 paintings in 70 days.
The second part delves deeper into the story of the artist’s death, which has intrigued both experts and the public for years, revealing little-known stories and uncovering overlooked accounts.
We then follow the story of how Van Gogh subsequently rose from relative obscurity to international renown and ultimately fame as one of the most recognisable and popular artists in the world.
Leading Van Gogh specialist Martin Bailey writes with insight and intelligence, bringing these fateful days to life with colour and character as well as historical expertise, capturing the real sense of a tragic but meaningful life truly lived.
