Museum acquires 55 of Van Gogh's letters
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- The Van Gogh Museum said it bought 55 letters written by Vincent van Gogh that give important information about the 19th century painter's world view and development of his artistic thought.
The letters were written by van Gogh to fellow artist Anthon van Rappard from 1881-85, when van Gogh was undergoing major transformations in his conception of art and his skill as an artist.
The Amsterdam museum did not say how much it paid for the letters, but Marsha Malinowski, a manuscript expert at Sotheby's auction house, put their value in the millions.
The letters were sold to the museum by an American collector who had kept them stored for decades in a sealed microwaveable container.
After Malinowski revealed the importance of the collection, she said the owner wanted them to go to the appropriate place.
Why they're important
Van Gogh officials said the letters were important for understanding the artist's development.
The two artists became friends after being introduced by van Gogh's younger brother, Theo. Although they came from contrasting backgrounds -- van Gogh was the self-taught son of a minister and van Rappard was classically trained and from a rich family -- they became friends through the letters and occasionally worked in each other's art studios.
In the letters, they debate social issues, literature, art and even art supplies. The letters also include sketches by van Gogh and express his desire "to make art about the common people and for the common people," Luijten said.
The letters track the demise of the friendship after van Rappard criticized a sketch van Gogh made for his 1885 painting, "The Potato Eaters."
Van Gogh's brilliant but troubled career ended when he committed suicide in 1890, after several stays in mental institutions. About 700 of his handwritten letters are in the museum's collection, most of them between Vincent and Theo.
The new letters will go on display in 2008 or 2009.
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