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Irises: Vincent van Gogh in the Garden
This lovely book tells the fascinating story of Vincent van Gogh’s famous floral paintings.
Vincent van Gogh painted Irises in the last year of his life, in the garden of the asylum at Saint-Rémy, where he was recuperating from an attack of mental illness. Although he considered the painting more a study than a finished picture, his brother Theo submitted it to the Salon des Indépendants in September 1889. Its energy and theme—the regenerative powers of the earth—express the artist’s deeply held belief in the divinity of art and nature.
This groundbreaking book fills a gap in Van Gogh scholarship with an in-depth study of Irises —among the J. Paul Getty Museum’s most famous paintings—placed in the context of his glorious flower and garden paintings. Full-color reproductions include not only Irises , but also a panoply of nature paintings by Van Gogh and the artists who inspired him, such as Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Paul Gauguin.
Vincent van Gogh painted Irises in the last year of his life, in the garden of the asylum at Saint-Rémy, where he was recuperating from an attack of mental illness. Although he considered the painting more a study than a finished picture, his brother Theo submitted it to the Salon des Indépendants in September 1889. Its energy and theme—the regenerative powers of the earth—express the artist’s deeply held belief in the divinity of art and nature.
This groundbreaking book fills a gap in Van Gogh scholarship with an in-depth study of Irises —among the J. Paul Getty Museum’s most famous paintings—placed in the context of his glorious flower and garden paintings. Full-color reproductions include not only Irises , but also a panoply of nature paintings by Van Gogh and the artists who inspired him, such as Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Paul Gauguin.
- GenresArtNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 24, 2024
Quite informative. Author helped me see things I hadn't connected together before.
April 25, 2025
I had the wonderful gift and opportunity to see Van Gogh's "Irises" for the first time with my husband earlier this month, and the experience left a lasting impression on us both. Its sheer vibrancy - the sense of motion within stillness, the dynamic composition - was remarkable and left us in awe.
This book, written by a former assistant curator at the Getty (where "Irises" is housed), offers an indispensable exploration of the painting’s history. It is meticulously researched, thoroughly detailed, and perfect for any fan hoping to dive deeper into the background of "Irises" - from its possible influences to its place among Van Gogh’s other floral works and those of his contemporaries.
It answered every question I had and was a joy to read from start to finish. Highly recommended - I already plan to reread it the next time I visit the Getty to see "Irises" again.
This book, written by a former assistant curator at the Getty (where "Irises" is housed), offers an indispensable exploration of the painting’s history. It is meticulously researched, thoroughly detailed, and perfect for any fan hoping to dive deeper into the background of "Irises" - from its possible influences to its place among Van Gogh’s other floral works and those of his contemporaries.
It answered every question I had and was a joy to read from start to finish. Highly recommended - I already plan to reread it the next time I visit the Getty to see "Irises" again.
April 25, 2024
POPSUGAR 2024: A book with a neurodivergent main character
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews