Vincent van Gogh’s ‘final gasp’

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Vincent van Gogh’s ‘final gasp’

Self-Portrait9_Van_Gogh

National Gallery to display Vincent van Gogh’s ‘final gasp,’ not seen publicly since 1966.

Christmas came early at the National Gallery of Art, which has just received Vincent van Gogh’s “Green Wheat Fields, Auvers” from the estate of museum benefactor Paul Mellon. 

"Roses"

The painting went on display Friday, December 21, 2013 in the Gallery’s West Building and hang between two other works by van Gogh: the still life “Roses” and the portrait “La Mousmé.” 

“La Mousmé"

“Green Wheat Fields, Auvers,” which depicts the French countryside, was painted months before the artist’s death in 1890. It is the ninth van Gogh painting to enter the National Gallery’s collection.

The work, "Green Wheat Fields, Auvers," is particularly exciting for art historians because the famous Dutch painter completed it just weeks before he died in France in 1890 at age 37. 

Paul Mellon

The oil painting had been in the private collection of late millionaire Paul Mellon, whose father, Andrew Mellon, founded the gallery in 1937.

It had hanged, unframed, in Paul and his wife Rachel's home in Virginia until Rachel, 103, donated it to the museum earlier this year after its last public showing in 1966. It now lives in a beautiful gold frame but with just a little sign and no protective glass, next to a self-portrait of the artist.