Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh Original Antique Late 19th Century Nature Morte Skull in Profile With a Bible Book Bijbel Post Impressionist Still Life Oil Painting Circa 1885/86 Antwerp Belgium Period

 Vincent Willem van Gogh, (1853-1890), original antique late 19th Century Nature Morte Still Life Skull in Profile with a Book, Dutch Post Impressionist oil painting on canvas; circa 1885/6, during the artist's period in Antwerp, Belgium. The painting's measurements are approximately 13.6” X 19.8”. There has been some professional restoration to correct a tear in the center of the image; (along the top of the skull). The length can be determined by the patch, verso; (as well as the last image that is included of the painting before restoration). There is very minimal overpaint that is isolated to this area; (as well as no more than 3 tiny chips of missing paint). Other than these isolated areas, there is no overpaint, and all other paint present is original to the painting. The painting is signed to the lower right, along the bottom, and "Vincent" under the book, respectively. Verso, remnants of the signature remain along the wooden stretcher bar,(and engraved somewhat into the bars), as well as a year of either 1885/1886. The painting has some degradation of the canvas, over the years, and may need to be relined at a future date.   

The book in the painting is likely a bible. There are interesting initials within the binding of the book. Upon examination, the first column has a large capital, "A." The Second column from the top, along the binding, has the large capital letter "B"; (the Dutch word for the Bible is "Bijbel"). The next few initials down the binding appear to be the initial "V". The painting was completed the same year as another still life with a skeleton smoking,  as well as another painting that is a still life of a bible. (There are at least a few artworks with the theme of a skull or skeleton in this period and in latter periods) This painting appears to be a culmination of both subjects in his other works, (A Skull and a Bible), as well as the theme of a still life representing natural death, (Nature Morte), completed by the artist, that year. The colors are very typical of the artist, having abandoned completely somber tones, he adopts carmine, emerald, and cobalt blue. His palette becomes richer in color in Antwerp, yet retains the monochrome elements of a post-impressionistic Jean Francois Millet.

It should be noted that the colors have changed somewhat during the photographic process. The top color is tomato red, which is close to the image color, and the bottom is closer to emerald green.

The painting was acquired by private sale from a collector in the south of France and has had restorations and research proceed subsequent to the latest acquisition.

Vincent Willem van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, is renowned as one of the most influential figures in Western art history. Despite struggling with depression and poverty throughout his life, Van Gogh created a vast body of work, including landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and self-portraits. His art is characterized by bold colors and expressive brushwork, which played a crucial role in shaping modern art.

Born into an upper-middle-class family, Van Gogh displayed artistic talent from an early age. He worked as an art dealer and later turned to religion, becoming a Protestant missionary in Belgium. However, he eventually shifted his focus to painting in 1881 and received financial support from his brother Theo. Van Gogh's early works mainly consisted of still lifes and depictions of peasant laborers, showing little of the vibrant color that would define his later style.

In 1886, Van Gogh moved to Paris, where he encountered avant-garde artists like Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, who were challenging the conventions of Impressionism. Influenced by these interactions, Van Gogh developed a new approach to still life and local landscapes. His paintings grew increasingly vibrant during his stay in Arles, France, in 1888, and he began exploring subjects such as olive trees, wheat fields, and sunflowers.

Throughout his life, Van Gogh battled mental health issues, experiencing psychotic episodes and delusions. Neglecting his physical well-being, he struggled with self-destructive behavior, including an incident where he cut off part of his ear during a confrontation with Gauguin. Van Gogh spent time in psychiatric hospitals and under the care of a doctor, but his depression persisted. In 1890, he tragically took his own life at the age of 37.

During his lifetime, Van Gogh faced commercial failure and was considered a madman and a failure. However, following his death, his artistic genius was recognized, and he became an icon of the tortured artist archetype. His unique style influenced subsequent art movements, such as Fauvism and German Expressionism. Today, his paintings are highly valued, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the world's largest collection of his artworks.

The most significant source of information about Van Gogh's life and thoughts comes from his correspondence with his younger brother, Theo. Their letters, spanning from 1872 to 1890, provide insights into Vincent's artistic theories and personal struggles. Theo, an art dealer, supported Vincent both financially and emotionally, connecting him with influential figures in the art world.

Van Gogh's early years were spent in Groot-Zundert, a Catholic province in the Netherlands. He was the eldest surviving child of Theodorus van Gogh, a minister, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus. Vincent's name was a tribute to his grandfather and a deceased brother. His mother hailed from a prosperous family, while his father was the youngest son of a minister. Van Gogh had several siblings, with whom he maintained contact primarily with his sister Willemina (Wil) and Theo.

Throughout his childhood, Van Gogh displayed a serious and thoughtful nature. He received an education at home and later attended boarding school. Despite his family's relatively modest income, they enjoyed certain privileges associated with his father's position as a minister. Van Gogh's mother instilled in him a sense of duty to uphold the family's social standing.

Overall, Vincent van Gogh's life was marked by artistic passion, personal struggles, and a posthumous recognition that established him as an iconic figure in the art world. His vivid and expressive works continue to captivate audiences, making him one of the most celebrated artists in history.

"Emerging artist

Nuenen and Antwerp (1883–1886)

Van Gogh painted several groups of still-life oil paintings in 1885. During his two-year stay in Nuenen, he completed numerous drawings and watercolors and nearly 200 oil paintings. His palette consisted mainly of somber earth tones, particularly dark brown, and showed very little sign of the vivid colors that distinguished his later work. 

When Vincent complained to his brother Theo that he was not making enough effort to sell his paintings in Paris, his brother responded that they were too dark and not in keeping with the bright style of Impressionism.  In August his work was publicly exhibited for the first time, in the shop windows of the dealer Leurs in The Hague.

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