The National Gallery allocated Van Gogh's 'Head of a Peasant Woman' under the Cultural Gifts Scheme
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, October 10, 2024


The National Gallery allocated Van Gogh's 'Head of a Peasant Woman' under the Cultural Gifts Scheme
Vincent van Gogh, Head of a Peasant Woman, late 1884/early 1885.



LONDON.- An early Vincent van Gogh painting has been donated to the National Gallery under the Cultural Gifts Scheme introduced by the UK Government earlier this year.

'Head of a Peasant Woman' is the first early work by the artist to enter the National Gallery collection. It is also the only one painted in his native Holland and, most importantly, the first figure painting – the six other Van Gogh works in the collection (four owned by the Gallery and two long terms loans) are landscapes and still lifes. 'Head of a Peasant Woman' is one of the most appealing of Van Gogh’s series of around 40 portraits of the peasants of Nuenen. He painted them in late 1884/early 1885 when he had settled in the village, which is in North Brabant in the Netherlands, where his father was a minister. The series of paintings that he executed that winter, as he established himself as a painter of working people, is arguably the first sustained artistic achievement of Van Gogh’s mature artistic career.

'Head of a Peasant Woman' holds a special place among the Nuenen portraits. Unlike most of the others in the series, Van Gogh represents here much more than just a peasant ‘type.’ The young sitter is painted with a sympathy and freshness to present an attractive, vivid personality. This portrait was amongst the very few works acquired early on from the Van Gogh family, probably soon after the artist’s death - indicating that its appeal was quickly recognised.

Whilst the Paris and Arles periods of Van Gogh’s career are well known, the importance of the Nuenen peasant portraits as a breakthrough in his artistic development is also widely recognised by scholars and critics, whilst the public has long responded to Van Gogh’s evident sympathy for his sitters. The recent publication of the artist’s letters demonstrates the social, moral and aesthetic significance of Van Gogh’s early years as an artist in the Low Countries - it was there that the great themes of his art were first elaborated.

National Gallery Director, Dr Nicholas Penny, said: "Before this acquisition, the National Gallery gave the public no idea of Van Gogh’s early work and had no painting which showed his extraordinary sympathy for the common people – who were never in his mind common at all."

The Cultural Gifts Scheme was launched in March 2013 in a bid to encourage philanthropy for the arts, as it enables UK taxpayers to donate important objects to the nation during their lifetime. 'Head of a Peasant Woman' is the second object to be donated to the nation as a result of it.

Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, said: "The generosity of philanthropists enhances public collections across the country. The new Cultural Gifts Scheme is already proving to be a welcome incentive to lifetime giving, and the donation of this beautiful early Van Gogh painting is a fantastic example of this, enabling visitors to the National Gallery to appreciate it for years to come."

Alan Davey, Arts Council England Chief Executive, said: "The Cultural Gifts Scheme, launched earlier this year, is going from strength to strength. That John Lennon’s lyrics, donated in April to the British Library, have now been added to by the second gift of this stunning Van Gogh painting to be housed in another national institution, the National Gallery, is a testament to its success so far. The impact of this scheme can only grow as more people step forward to donate works for the nation to own and cherish."

This is an opportune moment for 'Head of a Peasant Woman' to enter the National Gallery collection, as in 2014 two versions of Vincent van Gogh's iconic 'Sunflowers' are being reunited in London for the first time in 65 years. From 25 January 2014 (until 27 April) the paintings from the National Gallery, London, and the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, can be seen in a free display in Room 46 of the Trafalgar Square gallery, alongside the results of recent scientific research into the two paintings carried out by both institutions.

Van Gogh's 'Head of a Peasant Woman' can be seen now in Room 45 of the National Gallery.










Today's News

December 21, 2013

Photographs and videos by Hiroshi Sugimoto on view at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art

Exhibition at Museum of Modern Art celebrates renowned gallerist Ileana Sonnabend

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announces acquisitions of works by Andy Warhol

The National Gallery allocated Van Gogh's 'Head of a Peasant Woman' under the Cultural Gifts Scheme

Unparalleled vigour and power in Canadian art: Emily Carr: Deep Forest opens at the Vancouver Art Gallery

National Portrait Gallery commissions portrait of Tony Blair by artist Alastair Adams

Actor Ryan O'Neal wins trial over ex-lover Farrah Fawcett's Andy Warhol painting

Exhibition of 19th and early 20th century Danish masterworks on view at Scandinavia House

Valuable Russian coins and medals from one man's collection to be sold in the Big Apple

Black and white photographs by Michael Kenna on view at Peter Fetterman Gallery

Nadeau's Auction Gallery to offer nine large Audubon prints at annual New Year's Day Auction

Moscow Museum of Modern Art opens exhibition by contemporary graphic design

Unflinching Vision: Goya's rare prints at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena

Kalfayan Galleries in Athens presents a solo exhibition of work by Nina Papaconstantinou

First large-scale solo exhibition of the work of Jaime Hayon on view at the Groninger Museum

Around 1,200 lots will come up for bid at Ahlers & Ogletree's New Year's Extravagabza Auction

Seguso Vetri d'Arte: Design Museum Ghent exhibition explores the history of glass objects

Media Art Crosses Terrain at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria LAB Gallery

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents FOCUS: Terry Haggerty

Over 400 pieces by renowned jewelry designer JAR on view at Metropolitan Museum




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful