Martin Bailey (1) (1947–)

Why the description refers to "the most iconic image" when there were actually seven? I suppose most people think of Van Gogh's sunflower paintings as one painting. Van Gogh painted four images of sunflowers when he was in Arles, ostensibly to decorate the house and Gauguin's room when his friend was coming to stay. These are Three Sunflowers, Six Sunflowers, Fourteen Sunflowers, and Fifteen Sunflowers. Later he painted a copy of Fourteen Sunflowers which he signed, a copy of Fifteen Sunflowers which he signed, and another copy of Fifteen Sunflowers which he did not sign. None of the copies are identical to the originals so you can clearly tell them apart.

This book explains how he painted these masterpieces and why they are masterpieces. If you are not well versed in art, it helps you to understand how to look at and appreciate these paintings and provides many excellent color illustrations as well as some old photos. It also explains his life during this time, what happened to all these paintings after his death, and his legacy to the art world (other painters) and to the world in general (collectors and people like us who go to museums to see these paintings and buy the reproductions to have in our homes).

It's a wonderful book, clearly well researched, interesting, intelligently written, and easy to read. I do, however, have one criticism. Bailey talks about van Gogh's death as a suicide, which has been the accepted version. But new information came out in the brilliant book Van Gogh: The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith that convincingly explains why suicide is unlikely and that what is far more likely is that he was shot by a young person who was summering in the village. The fact that the gun was never found, would be one fact in favor of this theory, but there are other factors as well (trajectory of the bullet and more). When I read that, I was convinced. Evidently Bailey was not. He does refer briefly to the theory that Vincent was shot by someone, only mentioning that there is a new biography that presents this theory without even mentioning the title or name of the authors.

I've always liked those sunflower paintings. Now I like them even more. Poor Vincent. He couldn't imagine how beloved his paintings would become.… (more)

Starry Night:Van Gogh At The Asylum
by: Martin Bailey
Quarto Publishing
2018
**** ( 4 stars)
#netgalley #StarryNight

Huge thank you to Netgalley, Martin Bailey and Quarto for sending this e-book for review.

As a Van Gogh fan, I really was impressed and intrigued by this volume of his paintings, while he was at Saint-Paul-du-Mansole (Saint Remy). After cutting off his ear, he was had many breakdowns, landing him here. He used his time and the views from Saint Remy as subjects to paint. What makes this book so interesting, besides the images that are here in color for the first time, are the text that accompany each image. The image and the text, together, helps explain his mental condition and how Van Gogh used this to further his abilities and the colors he chose to use. I totally enjoyed reading the history of "Starry Night" and the "Almond Blossoms". This is a must read for any Van Gogh appreciator, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an intriguing novel.… (more)

Starry Night by Martin Bailey is a wonderful exploration of this period of Van Gogh's life.

It seems like whenever I reread one of Bailey's books on Van Gogh's time in France (The Sunflowers are Mine, Studio of the South, Starry Night, and Van Gogh's Finale) it becomes my new favorite. I can offer some reasons why this one qualifies.

First, I think this period of his work is my favorite and a beautifully illustrated book like this is sure to appeal to me. Coupled with well-written accounts of his stay and his thoughts makes this both visually and intellectually interesting.

Second, exploring the grounds and his fellow patients through Bailey's research gives wonderful insight into what helped him create such exquisite pieces of art. Plus, it gave me several opportunities to go off on tangents. For example, his painting of the long hallway and his thought that, if the building were someplace else, it would make an ideal exhibit space, made me think about exhibit spaces. I mentally went back and thought about how I work my way through various layouts, more or less structured paths through the exhibits. Yeah, I go off by myself sometimes, but I enjoy it.

Third, and this is really just me being odd, it always brings Don McLean to mind and I sing Vincent for days. Even my dogs get tired of it, but the song is great. Anyway, back to the book.

I would recommend this, as well as Bailey's other books on Van Gogh, to anyone with even a passing interest in him. The illustrations are wonderful and the text brings the life and times of Van Gogh into vivid light.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (more)