Starry Night Over the Rhône

1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh

This article is about the 1888 Van Gogh painting. For the 1889 Van Gogh painting on the same theme, see The Starry Night. For other uses, see Starry Night (disambiguation).

Starry Night Over the Rhône [1]

French: La Nuit étoilée
Artist| Vincent van Gogh
Year| 1888
Catalogue|

* F474
* JH1592

Medium| Oil on canvas
Dimensions| 72.5 cm × 92 cm (28.5 in × 36.2 in)
Location| Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Starry Night [1] (September 1888, French: La Nuit étoilée), commonly known as Starry Night Over the Rhône, is one of Vincent van Gogh's paintings of Arles at night. It was painted on the bank of the Rhône that was only a one or two-minute walk from the Yellow House on the Place Lamartine, which van Gogh was renting at the time. The night sky and the effects of light at night provided the subject for some of van Gogh's more famous paintings, including Café Terrace at Night (painted earlier the same month) and the June, 1889, canvas from Saint-Remy, The Starry Night.

A sketch of the painting is included in a letter van Gogh sent to his friend Eugène Boch on 2 October 1888.[2]

Starry Night, which is now in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, was first exhibited in 1889 at Paris' annual exhibition of the Société des Artistes Indépendants. It was shown together with van Gogh's Irises, which was added by Vincent's brother, Theo, although Vincent had proposed including one of his paintings from the public gardens in Arles.

## Subject matter

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A similar view of the site, 2008

The view is from the quay on the east side of the Rhône, into the knee of the river towards the western shore: coming down from the north, the Rhône turns to the right at this point to surround the rocks on which Arles is built. From the towers of Saint-Julien and Saint-Trophime at the left, the spectator follows the east bank up to the iron bridge connecting Arles to the suburb of Trinquetaille on the right, western bank. This implies a view from Place Lamartine towards the southwest. 43°40′57″N 4°37′49″E﻿ / ﻿43.682367°N 4.630287°E﻿ / 43.682367; 4.630287 Though, as noted below this is not consistent with the stars portrayed as the Plough in Ursa Major would not be visible in that direction.

## Genesis

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Letter sketch, 2 October 1888, now in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Van Gogh announced and described this composition in a letter to his brother Theo:

> Included a small sketch of a 30 square canvas - in short the starry sky painted by night, actually under a gas jet. The sky is aquamarine, the water is royal blue, the ground is mauve. The town is blue and purple. The gas is yellow and the reflections are russet gold descending down to green-bronze. On the aquamarine field of the sky the Great Bear is a sparkling green and pink, whose discreet paleness contrasts with the brutal gold of the gas. Two colorful figurines of lovers in the foreground.[3]

In reality, the view depicted in the painting faces away from Ursa Major, which is to the north. The foreground indicates heavy rework, wet-in-wet, as soon as the first state was finished.[4] The letter sketches executed at this time probably are based on the original composition.

## Colours of the night

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The challenge of painting at night intrigued van Gogh. The vantage point he chose for Starry Night allowed him to capture the reflections of the gas lighting in Arles across the glimmering blue water of the Rhône. In the foreground, two lovers stroll by the banks of the river.

Depicting colour was of great importance to Vincent; in letters to his brother, Theo, he often described objects in his paintings in terms of colour. His night paintings, including Starry Night, emphasize the importance he placed on capturing the sparkling colors of the night sky and of the artificial lighting that was new to the era.

## The Great Bear

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In September 1888, when Vincent van Gogh painted this picture on the banks of the Rhône, he saw the city of Arles looking south-west. The Great Bear will never be visible in that direction. On the other hand, he only had to turn his head to the north to see the constellation in exactly the position depicted. This painting is therefore an assemblage of a terrestrial plane and a celestial plane.[5]

## The Star Flowers

[edit]

In 1888, when he painted the night sky, the stars resemble flowers. By the time he painted The Starry Night in 1889, his technique has evolved, the brightness of the stars being symbolized by concentric dotted circles.[5]

## See also

[edit]

* List of works by Vincent van Gogh
* The riddle of the painting (Extensive research explains the assembly in the painting of a celestial plane and an earthly plane).)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Musée d'Orsay: Vincent van Gogh Starry Night". Musée d'Orsay. 2007-07-31. Archived from the original on 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
2. ^ "Letter to Eugène Boch including a sketch of Starry Night over the Rhone painting". Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
3. ^ Letter 543 Archived 2017-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ For a tracing of the original composition see Roland Dorn 1990, ill. p. 388
5. ^ a b https://raymoonphoto.com/en/the-riddle-of-the-painting/

## Sources

[edit]

* Boime, Albert: Van Gogh's Starry Night: A History of Matter and a Matter of History . Arts Magazine. 59 (4): 86–103. (also available on CD-ROM: ISBN 3-634-23015-0 (German version))
* Dorn, Roland: Décoration: Vincent van Gogh's Werkreihe für das Gelbe Haus in Arles, Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim, Zürich & New York 1990 ISBN 3-487-09098-8 / ISSN 0175-9558

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Starry Night Over the Rhone at Wikimedia Commons

* v
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Vincent van Gogh

General|

* Biography
* List of works
* List of drawings
* Chronology
* The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
* Health
* Auberge Ravoux
* Death
* Nazi looting of artworks by Vincent van Gogh
* Posthumous fame
* Cultural depictions
* Lost Arles sketchbook

Groups of
works|

* Early works (1881–82)
* Portraits (1881–1890)
* Peasant Character Studies (1881–1885)
* Van Gogh's family in his art (1881–1888)
* Sien (1882–83)
* Cottages (1883–1885)
* Water Mill at Gennep (1884)
* Still life paintings, Netherlands (1884–85)
* Old Church Tower at Nuenen (1884–85)
* Amsterdam (1885)
* Wheat Fields (1885–1890)
* Le Moulin de la Galette (1886)
* Still life paintings, Paris (1886–87)
* Montmartre (1886–87)
* Self portraits (1886–1889)
* Outskirts of Paris (1887)
* Asnières (1887)
* Seine (1887)
* Japonaiserie (1887)
* Sunflowers (1887–1889)
* Trees and Undergrowth (1887–1890)
* Copies by Vincent van Gogh (1887–1890)
* Langlois Bridge at Arles (1888)
* Saintes-Maries (1888)
* Boats du Rhône (1888)
* Décoration for the Yellow House (1888)
* The Roulin Family (1888–89)
* Hospital in Arles (1888–89)
* Flowering Orchards (1888–89)
* Almond Blossoms (1888–1890)
* Paintings of Children (1888–1890)
* The Wheat Field (1889)
* Reaper (1889)
* Olive Trees (1889)
* Wheat Fields (1889)
* Butterflies (1889–90)
* Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Rémy (1889–90)
* Auvers Double-squares and Squares (1890)
* Lost works by Vincent van Gogh
* Display at Les XX, 1890

Oil paintings|

| 1882|

* Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather
* Girl in White in the Woods
* Lying Cow
* A Girl in the Street, Two Coaches in the Background

|

1883|

* Cows in the Meadow
* Farmhouses Among Trees
* Bulb Fields
* Landscape with a Church at Twilight
* Landscape with Dunes
* Footbridge across a Ditch
* Marshy Landscape
* A Wind-Beaten Tree
* Farm with Stacks of Peat
* Farmhouses in Loosduinen near The Hague at Twilight
* Three Figures near a Canal with Windmill

1884|

* Two Rats
* Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen
* The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen
* Landscape with Pollard Willows
* Cart with Black Ox
* Cart with Red and White Ox
* Lane in Autumn
* Water Mill at Opwetten
* Water Mill at Kollen
* Village at Sunset
* Avenue of Poplars in Autumn
* Avenue of Poplars at Sunset
* Head of an Old Farmer's Wife in a White Hat

1885|

* Still Life with Straw Hat
* The Potato Eaters
* Peasant Woman Digging
* Peasant Woman Digging Up Potatoes
* Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette

1886|

* Vase with Red Poppies
* Vase with White and Red Carnations
* The Kingfisher

1887|

* Poppy Flowers
* Wheat Field with a Lark
* View of Paris from Vincent's Room in the Rue Lepic
* Portrait of Père Tanguy
* A Woman Walking in a Garden
* Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase
* Agostina Segatori Sitting in the Café du Tambourin
* Red Cabbages and Garlic

1888|

* Madame Roulin and Her Baby
* Landscape with Snow
* La Mousmé
* The Zouave
* Still Life: Vase with Oleanders
* The Night Café
* The Yellow House
* Van Gogh's Chair
* Café Terrace at Night
* Starry Night Over the Rhône
* Portrait of the Artist's Mother
* Bedroom in Arles
* The Painter on the Road to Tarascon
* Les Alyscamps
* A Lane in the Public Garden at Arles
* Falling Autumn Leaves
* L'Arlésienne
* The Red Vineyard
* Memory of the Garden at Etten (Ladies of Arles)
* Les Arènes
* Interior of a Restaurant in Arles
* A Lane near Arles
* Arles: View from the Wheat Fields
* Sunset at Montmajour
* Farmhouse in Provence
* Orchard with Cypresses

1889|

* Valley with Ploughman Seen from Above
* View of Arles, Flowering Orchards
* Portrait of Doctor Rey
* Crab on its Back
* Two Crabs
* Irises
* Lilac Bush
* The Starry Night
* The Gardener
* Self-portrait (1889)
* Self-portrait without beard
* Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
* A Meadow in the Mountains: Le Mas de Saint-Paul
* A Road at Saint-Remy with Female Figure
* Enclosed Field with Peasant
* Rain
* Cypresses
* Wheat Field with Cypresses
* Green Wheat Field with Cypress
* The Diggers
* The Ravine of the Peyroulets
* Ivy
* View of the Asylum and Chapel of Saint-Rémy
* The Large Plane Trees
* The Mulberry Tree

1890|

* The Siesta
* Road with Cypress and Star
* At Eternity's Gate
* Thatched Cottages and Houses
* Portrait of Dr. Gachet
* Doctor Gachet's Garden in Auvers
* Houses at Auvers
* White House at Night
* Landscape with a Carriage and a Train
* Girl in White
* The Church at Auvers
* Daubigny's Garden
* Farms near Auvers
* The Cows
* The Town Hall at Auvers
* Blossoming Chestnut Branches
* Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat
* Still Life: Vase with Pink Roses
* Portrait of Adeline Ravoux
* Plain near Auvers
* Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds
* Wheatfield with Crows
* Prisoners' Round (after Gustave Doré)
* Tree Roots
* Landscape at Auvers in the Rain
* Poppy Field

Watercolours|

* Boy Cutting Grass with a Sickle (1881)
* Meadows near Rijswijk and the Schenkweg (1882)
* The 'Laakmolen' near The Hague (1882)
* Church Pew with Worshippers (1882)
* Woman on Her Deathbed (1883)
* Landscape with Trees (1883)
* Peatery in Drenthe (1883)
* Landscape with Wheelbarrow (1883)
* Drawbridge in Nieuw-Amsterdam (1883)
* Breton Women (1888)
* Old Vineyard with Peasant Woman (1890)

Drawings|

* 87 Hackford Road (1873 or 1874)
* Marsh with Water Lilies (1881)
* Sorrow (1882)
* Portrait of a Man in a Top Hat (1882)
* Torso of Venus and a Landscape (1887)
* Head of a Girl (1888)

Museums|

* Van Gogh Museum
* Van Gogh House (Drenthe)
* Maison Van Gogh
* Kröller-Müller Museum
* Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole
* Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles

Portrayals|

* Vincent van Gogh (1886 painting)
* Portrait of Vincent van Gogh (1887)
* The Painter of Sunflowers (1888 painting)
* Lust for Life (1934 novel)
* Van Gogh (1948 film)
* Lust for Life (1956 film)
* Van Gogh (1956 opera)
* Vincent and Theo van Gogh (1963 statue)
* "Vincent" (1971 song)
* Vincent (1987 film)
* Vincent & Theo (1990 film)
* Vincent and Me (1990 film)
* Dreams (1990 film)
* Vincent (1990 opera)
* Van Gogh (1991 film)
* Vincent in Brixton (2003 play)
* The Yellow House (2007 film)
* "Vincent and the Doctor" (2010 TV episode)
* Loving Vincent (2017 film)
* At Eternity's Gate (2018 film)

Family|

* Theo van Gogh (brother)
* Wil van Gogh (sister)
* Cor van Gogh (brother)
* Johanna van Gogh-Bonger
* Andries Bonger
* Theo van Gogh (film director)
* Anton Mauve
* Johannes Stricker

Cataloguers|

* Jacob Baart de la Faille (1928 and 1970; "F")
* Jan Hulsker (1978, revised 1989; "JH")

Related|

* The Vincent Award
* Van Gogh immersive experience

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Musée d'Orsay

Building

* Gare d'Orsay

Paintings

| French|

* Baader: Remorse
* Bartholomé: In the Conservatory
* Bastien-Lepage: Haymaking
* Bazille: The Family Reunion – The Improvised Field Hospital – The Pink Dress – Bazille's Studio
* Belly: Pilgrims going to Mecca
* Bonnard: Woman with a Cat
* Bonheur: Ploughing in the Nivernais
* Bouguereau: The Birth of Venus – La Danse – Dante and Virgil – Equality Before Death – Les Oréades
* Boulanger: Répétition du "Joueur de flûte" et de "La femme de Diomède" chez le prince Napoléon
* Bracquemond: The Lady in White – Three Women with Parasols
* Cabanel: The Birth of Venus
* Caillebotte: Les raboteurs de parquet – Vue de toits (Effet de neige)
* Cézanne: The Hanged Man's House – The Card Players – Portrait of Gustave Geffroy
* Chassériau: Arab Chiefs Challenging each other to Single Combat under the Ramparts of a City
* de Chavannes: The Poor Fisherman – The Turtle Seller
* Courbet: A Burial at Ornans – L'Origine du monde – The Painter's Studio – Le ruisseau noir – The Wounded Man
* Couture: The Romans in their Decadence
* Daubigny: The Harvest
* Daumier: The Laundress – The Republic
* Degas: L'Absinthe – The Bellelli Family – Café-Concert at Les Ambassadeurs (1885) – Les Choristes – The Orchestra at the Opera – Portraits at the Stock Exchange – The Tub
* Dehodencq: Boabdil's Farewell to Granada
* Delacroix: Arab Horses Fighting in a Stable
* Denis: Homage to Cézanne
* Detaille: The Dream
* Doré: The Enigma
* Fantin-Latour: Around the Piano – The Corner of the Table – Homage to Delacroix – A Studio at Les Batignolles
* Gauguin: Arearea – The Beautiful Angel – Breton Peasant Women – The Schuffenecker Family – Self-Portrait in a Hat – Self-Portrait with the Yellow Christ – Tahitian Women on the Beach – Vairumati
* Gérôme: The Cock Fight – Jerusalem – Reception of the Grand Condé at Versailles
* Gervex: A Session of the Painting Jury
* Glaize: The Gallic Women: Episode from the Roman Invasion
* Ingres: The Source
* Laurens: The Excommunication of Robert the Pious
* Lefebvre: The Truth
* Luce: The Quai Saint-Michel and Notre-Dame
* Manet: The Balcony – Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets – Blonde Woman with Bare Breasts – Bullfight – Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe – Flowers in a Crystal Vase – The Fifer – Madame Manet at the Piano – Olympia – The Port of Boulogne by Moonlight – Portrait of Clemenceau – Portrait of Emile Zola – Portrait of Marguerite de Conflans [1] – Portrait of Monsieur and Madame Manet – Portrait of Stéphane Mallarmé – The Reading – A Sprig of Asparagus – The Waitress
* Matisse: Luxe, Calme et Volupté
* Meissonier: French Campaign, 1814 – The Siege of Paris
* Millet: The Angelus – The Gleaners – Shepherdess with her Flock – The Winnower
* Monet: The Artist's Garden at Giverny – A Cart on the Snowy Road at Honfleur – Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe – The Magpie – Regatta at Argenteuil – Resting Under a Lilac Bush – The Road in Front of Saint-Simeon Farm in Winter – Women in the Garden
* Moreau: The Apparition
* Morisot: The Cradle
* Motte: The Fiancée of Belus
* Ottmann: The Luxembourg Station in Brussels
* Regnault: Summary Execution under the Moorish Kings of Granada
* Renoir: Bal du moulin de la Galette – The Bathers – Dance in the City – Dance in the Country – Frédéric Bazille at his Easel – Girls at the Piano – Portrait of the Painter Claude Monet – Portrait of William Sisley – The Swing
* Rousseau: The Snake Charmer
* Sérusier: The Talisman
* Seurat: The Circus
* Sisley: Avenue of Poplars near Moret-sur-Loing – The Canal du Loing – The Canal Saint-Martin – Chemin de la Machine, Louveciennes – The Forge at Marly-le-Roi – Regatta at Molesey near Hampton Court – Resting by a Stream at the Edge of the Wood – Rue de la Chaussée in Argenteuil – View of the Canal Saint-Martin – The Village of Voisins
* Toulouse-Lautrec: Le Lit – La Toilette

|

American|

* Harrison: Solitude
* Tanner: The Resurrection of Lazarus
* Whistler: Whistler's Mother

Belgian|

* van Rysselberghe: Sailboats and Estuary
* Stevens: The Bath – What is Called Vagrancy

British|

* Burne-Jones: The Wheel of Fortune

Dutch|

* Van Gogh: L'Arlésienne – Bedroom in Arles (3rd version) – The Church at Auvers – Starry Night Over the Rhône – Portrait of Dr. Gachet (2nd version) – Doctor Gachet's Garden in Auvers – Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase – Self-portrait

Finnish|

* Edelfelt: Pasteur's portrait by Edelfelt

Italian|

* Boldini: Madame Charles Max – Portrait of Robert de Montesquiou

Spanish|

* Sorolla: The Return from Fishing: Hauling the Boat

Sculptures

| French|

* Barrias: Nature Unveiling Herself Before Science
* Clésinger: Woman Bitten by a Serpent
* Claudel: The Mature Age
* Delaplanche: Virgin with a Lily
* Jacquemart: Rhinocéros
* Gauguin: Objet décoratif carré avec dieux tahitiens – Oviri

|

* [1] On display at the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse

Authority control databases |

* RKD ID

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