Search Results for “van gogh” – The Courtauld Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:24:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.1 Van Gogh. Self-Portraits /whats-on/van-gogh-self-portraits-22/ Thu, 30 Sep 2021 07:57:30 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=51490 Van Gogh. Self-Portraits takes as its springboard Van Gogh’s iconic Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, one of the most celebrated works in The Courtauld’s collection, and brings together around half of...

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Van Gogh. Self-Portraits takes as its springboard Van Gogh’s iconic Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, one of the most celebrated works in The Courtauld’s collection, and brings together around half of the self-portraits Van Gogh created during his short years as a painter.

This is the first time that the full span of Van Gogh’s self-portraiture has been explored in an exhibition. Several works in the exhibition were last together in Van Gogh’s studio and have never been reunited, until now.

An outstanding selection of 16 self-portraits have been brought together to trace the evolution of Van Gogh’s self representation, from his early Self-Portrait with a Dark Felt Hat, created in 1886 during his formative period in Paris, toSelf-Portrait with a Palette, painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in September 1889, one of his last self-portraits before his death in 1890.

The myth of Van Gogh today is linked as much to his extraordinary life as it is to his stunning paintings. This exhibition allows both aspects to be explored.

Lead Partner

Morgan Stanley logo

Supported by Kenneth C. Griffin
With additional support from The Huo Family Foundation

★★★★★

“An exhibition of electrifying intimacy.”

★★★★★

“A landmark exhibition.” “Sensational.”

★★★★★

“An unprecedented and not-to-be-missed show.”

★★★★★

“Van Gogh’s art at its rawest and most intimate.”

★★★★★

“That search “deep in the soul” for an original form of expression, is abundant in this extraordinary show.”

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Photo of man looking at Van Gogh paintings i Photo: Fergus Carmichael

Van Gogh. Self-Portraits Virtual Tour

The new virtual tour will allow you to explore The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Van Gogh. Self-Portraits online, giving you a chance to rediscover Van Gogh’s life and genius from the comforts of your own home!

Order the exhibition catalogue

This exhibition catalogue is essential reading for art lovers who want to learn more about the self-portraits on display inVan Gogh. Self-Portraits.

The myth of Van Gogh today is linked as much to his extraordinary life as it is to his stunning paintings. His biography has often shaped the way that his self-portraits have been (mis)understood. Van Gogh. Self-Portraits reconsiders this aspect of his production and places the artist’s self-representation in context to reveal the role it plays in his oeuvre.

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image of the Courtauld's great room showing paintings of Cezanne on the wall

Plan your visit

Find all the information you need ahead of your visit to The Courtauld Gallery from admission prices to how to get here and more….

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Exhibition, The Courtauld Gallery, What’s On Highlights

Edvard Munch. Masterpieces from Bergen

27 May – 4 Sep 2022 | Weekend tickets from £18, Friends and Under-18s go free

A major collection of works by Edvard Munch will be shown in the UK for the first time as part of a partnership between The Courtauld and KODE art museums in Bergen, Norway. …

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]]> Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear /highlights/self-portrait-with-bandaged-ear/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 14:25:00 +0000 /?post_type=collection-hlights&p=10046 This famous painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, expresses his artistic power and personal struggles. Van Gogh painted it in January 1889, a week after leaving hospital....

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This famous painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, expresses his artistic power and personal struggles. Van Gogh painted it in January 1889, a week after leaving hospital. He had received treatment there after cutting off most of his left ear (shown here as the bandaged right ear because he painted himself in a mirror). This self-mutilation was a desperate act committed a few weeks earlier, following a heated argument with his fellow painter Paul Gauguin who had come to stay with him in Arles, in the south of France. Van Gogh returned from hospital to find Gauguin gone and with him, the dream of setting up a ‘studio of the south’, where like-minded artists could share ideas and work side by side.

The fur cap Van Gogh wears in this painting is a reminder of the harsh working conditions he faced in January 1889: the hat was a recent purchase to secure his thick bandage in place and to ward off the winter cold. This self-portrait is thus powerful proof of Van Gogh’s determination to continue painting. It is reinforced by the objects behind him, which take on a symbolic meaning: a canvas on an easel, just begun, and a Japanese print, an important source of inspiration. Above all, it is Van Gogh’s powerful handling of colour and brushwork that declare his ambition as a painter.

Explore this painting in our virtual tour

This painting is on display in the LVMH Great Room, Level 3 of The Courtauld Gallery. You can view this room from the comforts of your home through our virtual tour.

Picture of a room i Blavatnik Fine Rooms, Room 5

Create your own gallery

Bring home your favourite pieces from The Courtauld’s collection with our exclusive custom prints to suit your space.Choose fromart paper or canvas, in a range of sizes and frames, and we will make your print and deliver it directly to your door.

Display of prints on a wall i Create your own gallery
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Gallery Virtual Tours

Explore each floor of The Courtauld Gallery with our virtual tours. Zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our remarkable collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint….

Read more

See more collection highlights

Explore The Courtauld’s remarkable collection of paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

Explore
Two men sit across from each other at a table covered with a brown tablecloth, playing cards. Both men wear overcoats and hats, and the man on the left smokes a pipe. They sit inside a wooden building. i Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) The Card Players, around 1892-96, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

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]]> A Tile Factory /highlights/a-tile-factory/ Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:22:09 +0000 /?post_type=collection-hlights&p=20156 Van Gogh made this drawing of a tile factory at the edge of a ploughed field during his sojourn in Arles in 1888. Using reed pens of varying thickness, he...

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Van Gogh made this drawing of a tile factory at the edge of a ploughed field during his sojourn in Arles in 1888. Using reed pens of varying thickness, he rendered the scene with a wide range of marks similar to those used in his paintings, from short flecks suggesting leaves or stubble in the foreground to thinner lines denoting the factory roof.

The drawing was carefully planned. A grid, drawn in pencil, is faintly visible underneath the ink. Van Gogh probably used it to establish the perspective setting the modern factory buildings at the centre of the rural surroundings. He would have encountered these buildings on his way to Arles in February 1888, returning later to draw them once the snow had melted.

Create your own gallery

Bring home your favourite pieces from The Courtauld’s collection with our exclusive custom prints to suit your space.Choose fromart paper or canvas, in a range of sizes and frames, and we will make your print and deliver it directly to your door.

 

Display of prints on a wall i Create your own gallery
Images and rights

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screencap of virtual tour

Gallery Virtual Tours

Explore each floor of The Courtauld Gallery with our virtual tours. Zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our remarkable collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint….

Read more

See more collection highlights

Explore The Courtauld’s remarkable collection of paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

Explore
Two men sit across from each other at a table covered with a brown tablecloth, playing cards. Both men wear overcoats and hats, and the man on the left smokes a pipe. They sit inside a wooden building. i Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) The Card Players, around 1892-96, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

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]]> Avant et après (Before and after)  /highlights/avant-et-apres/ Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:38:28 +0000 /?post_type=collection-hlights&p=20277 ...artists, in particular with Vincent van Gogh. Gauguin set down blistering tirades against the French colonial and church authorities in Polynesia, yet the text is also peppered with examples of...

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Gauguin was a prolific writer whose written output is intimately entwined with his art. Avant et après (Before and after), his final manuscript, was completed on the island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas during the last months of his life. The manuscript is interspersed with numerous pen and ink drawings, as well as many monotypes, depicting the landscapes and people of the Marquesas.

In the 213 handwritten pages of this part-memoir, part-manifesto, Gauguin muses on his own art, records anecdotes of his friendships and conflicts with writers and other artists, in particular with Vincent van Gogh. Gauguin set down blistering tirades against the French colonial and church authorities in Polynesia, yet the text is also peppered with examples of his own racism and misogyny.

An open book resting on a stand. Handwritten text by Paul Gauguin is on the left hand page, and the right page has handwritten text and two drawings interspersing the text.
‘Le petit mignon’ and his dogs in Cythera; two heads (a self-portrait?) in a café; text and drawings in pen and black ink. Detail from the manuscript Avant et après by Paul Gauguin. © The Courtauld.

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Gallery Virtual Tours

Explore each floor of The Courtauld Gallery with our virtual tours. Zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our remarkable collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint….

Read more

See more collection highlights

Explore The Courtauld’s remarkable collection of paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

Explore
Two men sit across from each other at a table covered with a brown tablecloth, playing cards. Both men wear overcoats and hats, and the man on the left smokes a pipe. They sit inside a wooden building. i Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) The Card Players, around 1892-96, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

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]]> Visit the permanent collection /whats-on/permanent-collection-display/ Thu, 30 Sep 2021 07:57:30 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=51489 ...of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including the world-famous A Bar at the Folies Bergère by Édouard Manet, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh and the most significant collection...

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The Courtauld’s much-loved permanent collection includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts ranging from the Renaissance through to the 20th century.

The Gallery is renowned for its remarkable group of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including the world-famous A Bar at the Folies Bergère by Édouard Manet, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK. These masterpieces are presented in The Courtauld Gallery’s spectacular LVMH Great Room, one of the largest spaces in Somerset House, alongside works by artists including Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and more.

The Blavatnik Fine Rooms, spanning the Piano Nobile across the whole of the second floor, provide the stunning setting for displaying works from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Highlights include Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach the Elder, The Family of Jan Bruegel the Elder and The Descent From The Cross by Peter Paul Rubens, The Trinity with Saints altarpiece by Sandro Botticelli, and Landscape with a flight into Egypt by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

The Ruddock Family Gallery is dedicated to The Courtauld’s important collection of Medieval and Early Renaissance paintings and decorative arts. Rooms devoted to 20th century art and the Bloomsbury Group also showcase lesser-known areas of the collection through rotating displays.

 

Gallery Entry from £10 / concessions available
Gallery Entry + Exhibition from £13 / concessions available
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Visitor information

The Courtauld Gallery, Shop and Art Café are cashless. We accept a wide range of cards and payment devices, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and more.

Tickets for the permanent collection do not include entry to temporary exhibitions.

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Permanent collection virtual tour

Our virtual tour uses a photographic technique to show The Courtauld Gallery and our collection in exceptional close-up quality.

You can roam each room of the Gallery, and zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint.

LVMH Gallery walls

Highlights

A vision of the Trinity dominates the work. God the Father sits on a throne surrounded by angels and holds the cross bearing his crucified son. The dove of the Holy Spirit hovers above.
Sandro Botticelli (around 1445-1510), The Trinity with Saints Mary Magdalen and John the Baptist,   Around 1491-94 , The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld   
A touching portrait of the family of the artist Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) by his close friend and collaborator Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) , The Family of Jan Brueghel the Elder , Around 1613–15, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
A landscape painting with blue sky, mountain ranges and a large river running through. In the foreground a red-cloaked figure rides a horse across a ridge, assisted by another figure in front.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder (around 1525-1569), Landscape with the Flight into Egypt, 1563, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
An intricate, oblong-shaped metal bag with front-closure. There are detailed illustrations at regular points across the front, and gold and silver inlays.
Bag, known as The Courtauld Bag, Mosul, Iraq (Ilkhanid dynasty, 1256–1353) 1300–30, Brass, hammered, chased and inlaid with silver and gold. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
Artist self-portrait wearing a blue hat and green coat with bandaged ear
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
A woman standing behind a bar facing straight ahead.
Édouard Manet (1832-1883), A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882), The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
A painting of three women in conversation. The woman on the left leans into the other two in earnest discussion. They sit in front of an open window with a bouquet of flowers visible.
Vanessa Bell (1879 – 1961), A Conversation, 1913-16 © Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2023
A painting of a bright sea scene, with blue skies and water. A mountainous skyline is in the background and a single tree, leaning towards the water from the foreground, has green leaves.
Claude Monet (1840-1926), Antibes, 1888, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
Paul Cézanne, Montagne Sainte-Victoire with Large Pine, c.1887, oil on canvas, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, (1841- 1919) La Loge, 1874
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, (1841- 1919) La Loge, 1874, oil on canvas, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
Two girls dance on stage. They wear leotards; one girl bows to the other.
Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas, Two Dancers on a Stage, 1874, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

The Collection

Explore The Courtauld’s remarkable collection of paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

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A woman standing behind a bar facing straight ahead. i Édouard Manet (1832-1883), A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882), The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld

Visitor information

The houses of parliament in the fog, with an orange sun and purple sky reflecting on the river Thames

Exhibition, The Courtauld Gallery, What’s On Highlights

Monet and London. Views of the Thames

27 Sept 2024 – 19 Jan 2025

An exhibition reuniting for the first time in 120 years an extraordinary group of Claude Monet’s Impressionist paintings of London, depicting Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament….

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A self portrait of Jonathan Richardson the elder on a blue background

Display, The Courtauld Gallery, What’s On Highlights

Drawn to Blue: Artists’ use of blue paper

4 Oct 2024 – 26 Jan 2025

This display presents a selection of drawings on blue paper from The Courtauld’s collection, ranging from works by the Venetian Renaissance artist Jacopo Tintoretto to a watercolour by famed English Artist Joseph Mallord William Turner….

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]]> A Bar at the Folies-Bergère /highlights/a-bar-at-the-folies-bergere/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 11:41:11 +0000 /?post_type=collection-hlights&p=1445 This famous painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, expresses his artistic power and personal struggles. Van Gogh painted it in January 1889, a week after leaving hospital....

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This famous painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, expresses his artistic power and personal struggles. Van Gogh painted it in January 1889, a week after leaving hospital. He had received treatment there after cutting off most of his left ear (shown here as the bandaged right ear because he painted himself in a mirror). This self-mutilation was a desperate act committed a few weeks earlier, following a heated argument with his fellow painter Paul Gauguin who had come to stay with him in Arles, in the south of France. Van Gogh returned from hospital to find Gauguin gone and with him, the dream of setting up a ‘studio of the south’, where like-minded artists could share ideas and work side by side.

The fur cap Van Gogh wears in this painting is a reminder of the harsh working conditions he faced in January 1889: the hat was a recent purchase to secure his thick bandage in place and to ward off the winter cold. This self-portrait is thus powerful proof of Van Gogh’s determination to continue painting. It is reinforced by the objects behind him, which take on a symbolic meaning: a canvas on an easel, just begun, and a Japanese print, an important source of inspiration. Above all, it is Van Gogh’s powerful handling of colour and brushwork that declare his ambition as a painter.

Zoom in with Google Art Camera

Explore this painting in our virtual tour

This painting is on display in the LVMH Great Room, Level 3 of The Courtauld Gallery. You can view this room from the comforts of your home through our virtual tour.

Picture of a room i Blavatnik Fine Rooms, Room 5

Watch a short film

Create your own gallery

Bring home your favourite pieces from The Courtauld’s collection with our exclusive custom prints to suit your space.Choose fromart paper or canvas, in a range of sizes and frames, and we will make your print and deliver it directly to your door.

 

Display of prints on a wall i Create your own gallery
Images and rights

You might also like

screencap of virtual tour

Gallery Virtual Tours

Explore each floor of The Courtauld Gallery with our virtual tours. Zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our remarkable collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint….

Read more

See more collection highlights

Explore The Courtauld’s remarkable collection of paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

Explore
Two men sit across from each other at a table covered with a brown tablecloth, playing cards. Both men wear overcoats and hats, and the man on the left smokes a pipe. They sit inside a wooden building. i Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) The Card Players, around 1892-96, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

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]]> Young People’s Workshops (16-18) /take-part/schools/young-people/free-workshops-16-18/ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:44:00 +0000 /?page_id=53677 ...us understand the present?… Book now Read more Public Programmes, Young People Van Gogh | Exploring Self (in-person) 10:00am, 18 Feb 2025 What is a self-portrait? How do artists reveal...

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Are you aged 16-18 and passionate about art, architecture, art history and visual culture? Join the Courtauld’s Young People’s Programme and take part in our free workshops!

You will collaborate with artists, curators, art historians and other young people interested in the arts to explore world famous artworks in the Courtauld Gallery Collection, uncover new research, experiment with new materials and discuss different approaches to understanding and making art – as well as learning more about the diverse career paths available with art history.

These workshops arefree and open to students attending UK state schools and colleges. Some workshops are online, others are in-person, please check before booking.

Booking is essentialdue to popular demand.

Artist self-portrait wearing a blue hat and green coat with bandaged ear

Public Programmes, Young People

Van Gogh | Exploring Self (in-person)

10:00am, 18 Feb 2025

What is a self-portrait? How do artists reveal their identity through self-portraiture? Join us to explore and celebrate Van Gogh and the idea of self-portraiture….

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Want more? Check out our Seminar Sessions programme

Past events | Further reading and resources

painting of a woman bartender looking straight ahead

Young People

Reworking Manet

Join us as we explore Edouard Manet’s world famous painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, to consider how radically the Impressionists captured their experiences of the city, and explore contemporary parallels to question what the city means to us tod…

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Artist self-portrait wearing a blue hat and green coat with bandaged ear

Public Programmes, Young People

Van Gogh | Exploring Self (in-person)

10:00am, 18 Feb 2025

What is a self-portrait? How do artists reveal their identity through self-portraiture? Join us to explore and celebrate Van Gogh and the idea of self-portraiture….

Read more
Charcoal drawing of a man, Frank Auerbach, sitting slightly side-on to the viewer and staring at us with a stern expression. The background is roughly completed, and the face somewhat fragmented by the background.

Young People

Frank Auerbach Portraits

Join us to explore a remarkable series of hauntingly beautiful, large-scale charcoal drawings by Frank Auerbach, one of the world’s most celebrated living artists (born 1931) currently on display at The Courtauld Gallery….

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Young People

Public Art | Who decides?

Art is all around us, and we are told that it is for ‘us’, but who decides what statues should commemorate, or which artworks are on display in art galleries….

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Public Programmes, Young People

Colour | Art, Science & Psychology (online)

10:00am, 1 Nov 2024

Discover colourful case studies in The Courtauld Collection with art historian Fran Herrick and relate these to contemporary artworks that continue a similarly bold and daring spirit of experimentation….

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A self portrait of Jonathan Richardson the elder on a blue background

Public Programmes, Young People

Drawing on blue paper (in-person)

10:00am, 30 Oct 2024

Join us in-person at The Courtauld Gallery to explore The Courtauld’s new display; Drawn to Blue: Artists’ use of blue paper….

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Public Programmes, Young People

Women in Art: feminisms art histories (online)

5:30pm, 10 Dec 2024

How can art history help us to think through questions of gender, subjectivity and ideas about ‘greatness’? This free online workshop will explore modern and contemporary artworks in a variety of mediums and consider how feminist art history helps us…

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young people stood outside the Courtauld Institute of Art, waving hands and smiling

Summer University

Summer University at The Courtauld provides the perfect opportunity for Year 12, state school or college students to explore the exciting and dynamic subject, History of Art….

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A touching portrait of the family of the artist Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) by his close friend and collaborator Peter Paul Rubens

Learning Resources

We have short Focus resources which look in detail at single artworks along with more in depth resources to help you plan and deliver exciting projects……

Read more

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]]> First major exhibition devoted to Van Gogh’s self-portraits across his career opens at The Courtauld Gallery /about-us/press-office/press-releases/exhibition-van-goghs-self-portraits/ Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:34:49 +0000 /?page_id=64788 ...two major paintings that played an important role in Van Gogh’s fashioning of his own image: Van Gogh’s Chair, described by the artist as a symbolic “self-portrait”, and Portrait of...

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Download the press pack, including highresolutionimages here:

An unprecedented exhibition of Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits opens at The Courtauld Gallery on Thursday 3rd February, bringing together for the very first time around half of all Van Gogh’s self-portraits to explore the full range of the artist’s most enduring and personal subject matter.

An outstanding group of 16 self-portraits trace the evolution of Van Gogh’s self-representation, from the early Self-Portrait with a Dark Felt Hat, created in 1886 during a formative time in Paris that saw the radical transformation in Van Gogh’s style, to Self-Portrait with a Palette, painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in September 1889, one of the last self-portraits created before his death in 1890. Some of the works in the exhibition were last together in Van Gogh’s studio and have never been reunited until now.

This is the first time the full span of Van Gogh’s self-portraiture has been explored in an exhibition, and it is the largest group to be brought together in more than 25 years. Alongside 16 self-portraits, the exhibition features two major paintings that played an important role in Van Gogh’s fashioning of his own image: Van Gogh’s Chair, described by the artist as a symbolic “self-portrait”, and Portrait of Eugène Boch, a portrait of his friend in which Van Gogh sought to convey his artistic ideals.

The exhibition takes as its springboard Van Gogh’s iconic Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, one of the most celebrated works in the collection of The Courtauld Gallery. It is shown together with masterpieces from major international collections – an exciting opportunity, given that many of these works are rarely lent.

Van Gogh was a prolific practitioner of self-portraiture. Thirty-five painted representations and two drawings survive, all created in just three and a half years, from spring 1886 to September 1889 when Van Gogh was between the ages of 33 and 36. His appearance is instantly recognisable, with his defined features, red beard, ginger hair and piercing green eyes. Curated by Dr Karen Serres, Curator of Paintings at The Courtauld, The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Van Gogh. Self-Portraits will explore the myriad ways Van Gogh approached his most important subject: as an outlet for experimenting with new styles, a cheap and practical way of securing a model, a critical tool for psychological introspection, and a means of constructing his own identity and presenting himself to the outside world.

Dr Karen Serres, curator of the exhibition, said: “Van Gogh is an icon of self-portraiture. His self-portraits have come to define him in the public imagination, offering access to his personality and becoming the lens through which we view his genius, passion, resilience, and struggles. This exhibition is the first to explore the full span of Van Gogh’s self-portraiture, which is striking in its variety, offering a unique and fascinating opportunity to observe Van Gogh’s creative and personal development.”

The exhibition is presented in The Courtauld’s new Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries and is the first in The Morgan Stanley Series of high-profile temporary exhibitions at The Courtauld. It features paintings from major international collections, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Detroit Institute of Arts; the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC; the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford CT; the National Museum, Oslo; the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the National Gallery, London.

Professor Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director of The Courtauld, said: “The transformation and recent re-opening of The Courtauld Gallery have received wide acclaimand we’re thrilled that the Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries allow us to present this landmark exhibition in a beautiful space that will allow visitors to see the masterpieces at their very best. We are tremendously grateful to our sponsors, supporters, Patrons and Friends who have provided critical support to present the exhibition and in particular Morgan Stanley, Ken Griffin and the Huo Family Foundation. The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Van Gogh. Self- Portraits features one of the most celebrated and treasured works in The Courtauld collection, Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear alongside other, rarely lent masterpieces from international collections. We cannot wait to welcome our visitors to enjoy such a fascinating exhibition and for what we anticipate will be a highlight of the cultural calendar this year”.

Franck Petitgas, Head of International for Morgan Stanley, said “Morgan Stanley is delighted to partner with The Courtauld on Van Gogh Self-Portraits, the first in The Morgan Stanley Series of major exhibitions at the gallery. The range of stellar loans in this unique exhibition gives us the opportunity to reconsider Van Gogh’s extraordinary life, as well as the masterpieces he created, many of which are brought together for the first time from major collections around the globe.”

The new Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries were unveiled when The Courtauld Gallery reopened on 19 November 2021 following a major three-year transformation project. Created out of former office, conservation and circulation spaces on the top floor of Somerset House, this suite of two galleries enables The Courtauld to expand its acclaimed programme of international loan exhibitions.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue featuring essays by international specialists presenting new research.

An exclusive range of products inspired by the self-portraits of Van Gogh will be available to purchase at the newly refurbished Courtauld Shop and online, including fashion accessories drawing influence from the artist’s signature uniform, from worn-in straw to classic blue workwear jackets and a selection of stationary featuring artwork from the exhibition. Other highlights include a range of art and gift books exploring the artist and the process of self-portraiture and an edit of made to order reproduction prints.

An engaging programme of Lates, short courses, talks, family-oriented events and other activities will run for the duration of the exhibition. Highlights include: a free online workshop run by art historian Fran Herrick, artist Alex Blum and curator Karen Serres with The Courtauld Young People’s Programme, two Self-Portrait Family Days during the Easter holidays and an exciting new partnership with Hospital Rooms artist Susie Hamilton where workshop participants will create their own self-portraits.

Further details

is available from just £5.50 a month, or £66 annually, and all active members of the Friends and Patrons programmes enjoy unlimited access to The Courtauld Gallery and its exhibitions throughout the year, discounts in the shop and café and much more.

The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Van Gogh. Self-Portraits
3 February – 8 May 2022

Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (last entry 5.15pm)
Weekend tickets from £20, Friends and Under-18s go free

The Courtauld Gallery

Somerset House, Strand
London WC2R 0RN

For more information and to book tickets:
/whats-on/van-gogh-self-portraits-22/

The Courtauld

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Erica Bolton | erica@boltonquinn.com | +44 (0)20 7221 5000
Dennis Chang | dennis@boltonquinn.com | +44 (0)20 7221 5000

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Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Courtauld
The Courtauld works to advance how we see and understand the visual arts, as an internationally- renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history and a major public gallery. Founded by collectors and philanthropists in 1932, the organisation has been at the forefront of the study of art ever since through advanced research and conservation practice, innovative teaching, the renowned collection and inspiring exhibitions of its gallery, and engaging and accessible activities, education and events.

The Courtauld cares for one of the greatest art collections in the UK, presenting these works to the public at The Courtauld Gallery in central London, as well as through loans and partnerships. The Gallery is most famous for its iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces – such as Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère. It showcases these alongside an internationally renowned collection of works from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance through to the present day.

Academically, The Courtauld faculty is the largest community of art historians and conservators in the UK, teaching and carrying out research on subjects from creativity in late Antiquity to contemporary digital artforms – with an increasingly global focus. An independent college of the University of London, The Courtauld offers a range of degree programmes from BA to PhD in the History of Art, curating and the conservation of easel and wall paintings. Its alumni are leaders and innovators in the arts, culture and business worlds, helping to shape the global agenda for the arts and creative industries.

Founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to engage with art, The Courtauld works to increase understanding of the role played by art throughout history, in all societies and across all geographies – as well as being a champion for the importance of art in the present day. This could be through exhibitions offering a chance to look closely at world-famous works; events bringing art history research to new audiences; accessible and expert short courses; digital engagement, innovative school, family and community programmes; or taking a formal qualification. The Courtauld’s ambition is to transform access to art history education by extending the horizons of what this is, and ensuring as many people as possible can benefit from the tools to better understand the visual world around us.

The Courtauld is an exempt charity and relies on generous philanthropic support to achieve its mission of advancing the understanding of the visual arts of the past and present across the world through advanced research, innovative teaching, inspiring exhibitions, programmes and collections.

The collection cared for by The Courtauld Gallery is owned by the Samuel Courtauld Trust.

About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit

About Kenneth C Griffin
Ken Griffin is the founder of Citadel, one of the world’s most successful global alternative investment firms, and Citadel Securities, one of the largest market makers in the world. In addition to his wide ranging contributions in global finance, Mr Griffin has been recognised as one of the top philanthropists in America. His catalytic giving – amounting to over $1 billion in recent years – has included game-changing philanthropic initiatives to advance education, healthcare and economic opportunity. Mr Griffin is a passionate supporter of the arts and cultural institutions internationally, with a particular focus on expanding access to the many forms of creative expression to inspire and engage students of all backgrounds.

About The Huo Family Foundation
Since its inception in 2009, the Huo Family Foundation has given over $50 million to support projects in the UK, US and China. The Foundation’s mission is to support education, communities and the pursuit of knowledge. Through its donations, the Foundation hopes to improve the prospects of individuals, and to support the work of organisations seeking to ensure a safe and successful future for all society. The Foundation aims to make art more accessible to all through its support for galleries, museums and centres for the performing arts.

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]]> Self-portraits by Van Gogh reunited for the first time in 130 years for landmark exhibition at The Courtauld /news-blogs/2022/self-portraits-by-van-gogh-reunited-for-the-first-time-in-130-years-for-landmark-exhibition-at-the-courtauld/ Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:36:17 +0000 /?p=64431 ...reveals the way in which Van Gogh did not shy away from confronting his mental state. In a letter to his brother, Van Gogh described the portrait as “an attempt...

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The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Van Gogh. Self- Portraits opens to the public 3 February – 8 May 2022.

The self-portraits were painted only one week apart at the asylum, in late August and early September 1889, but show Van Gogh in very different lights – the first was painted as he was still in the midst of the severe mental health crisis that had struck him in mid-July, while the second was created as he was slowly recovering. Indeed, Van Gogh made clear that being able to paint was key to his healing process. Shown together for the first time in over a century at The Courtauld Gallery, the self-portraits provide a unique insight into Van Gogh’s changing psychological condition and the way he viewed himself.

Van Gogh’s first major mental health crisis occurred on 23 December 1888, when he cut off a large part of his left ear, following a dispute with his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin. Following a series of relapses, on 8 May 1889, Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, located in a former monastery close to Saint-Rémy, France. He stayed there for a year, during which his mental health fluctuated significantly. Fearing that doctors would not allow him to paint, Van Gogh asked his brother Theo to write to the asylum on his behalf, stating: “working on my paintings is quite necessary to my recovery”.
Confined indoors without any models other than himself, but still wanting to practice painting figures, Van Gogh turned to self-portraiture.

Painted in late August 1889, Self-Portrait, on loan from The National Museum of Art in Oslo, reveals the way in which Van Gogh did not shy away from confronting his mental state. In a letter to his brother, Van Gogh described the portrait as “an attempt from when I was ill”. While the composition and sideways glance are familiar, this representation has a distinctly sombre feel, with matte, muddy colours and mottled brushstrokes rendering Van Gogh’s features less recognisable. His hair is short, his beard patchy, and his green eyes are dull.

In close succession in the first week of September 1889, feeling recovered, Van Gogh painted another self-portrait, the execution of which shows a painter in full command of his powers. Van Gogh’s depiction confronts himself, as well as the viewer, in contrast to the skittish, sideways glance of the Oslo self-portrait painted just one week earlier. Varied and dynamic brushwork, precise contrast between red hair and white flesh, and a careful selection of blue pigments attest to its careful planning. Significantly, he portrays himself as a painter at work, a rare occurrence in his oeuvre, wearing a painter’s smock holding brushes and a palette. On loan from The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, this self-portrait shows Van Gogh’s determination to return to painting after weeks of torment, and look at himself anew following the debilitating mental health crisis he suffered that summer.

Dr Karen Serres, curator of the exhibition, says: “Seeing these works together will be an incredibly moving experience, the embodiment of Van Gogh’s resilience and courage in the face of personal adversity. It shows what painting meant to him and to his recovery, and how he was able to create, in the most difficult of circumstances, works that remain incredibly
powerful over a century later.”

Dr. Karen Serres, curator of the exhibition, says: “Seeing these works together will be an incredibly moving experience, the embodiment of Van Gogh’s resilience and courage in the face of personal adversity. It shows what painting meant to him and to his recovery, and how he was able to create, in the most difficult of circumstances, works that remain incredibly powerful over a century later.”

Van Gogh gave the Oslo self-portrait to friends during a visit to Arles in January 1890, while the Washington DC self-portrait was sent to his brother in Paris. The two paintings have not been together since they were first made in his workroom at the asylum at Saint-Rémy, and are presented together for the first time in over 130 years at The Courtauld.

This landmark exhibition – the first in the Morgan Stanley series of major exhibitions staged in The Courtauld’s newly refurbished Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries – brings together for the very first time an outstanding group of 16 Van Gogh self-portraits to explore the full range of the artist’s most enduring and personal subject matter.

Two self-portraits by Vincent van Gogh, that have not been seen together since leaving the artist’s workroom in the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the south of France, have been reunited for the first time in over 130 years as part of an unprecedented exhibition of Van Gogh’s self-portraits at The Courtauld Gallery.

Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Self-Portrait, late August 1889, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Self-Portrait, September 1889, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Tickets for The Morgan Stanley Exhibition:Van Gogh. Self-Portraitsare on sale now. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Van Gogh. Self-Portraits

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]]> The Courtauld to stage the first exhibition devoted to Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits across his career /news-blogs/2021/van-goghs-self-portraits-exhibition/ Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:58:29 +0000 /?p=40127 The first ever exhibition devoted to Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits across his entire career will take place at The Courtauld Gallery from 3 February – 8 May 2022. Van Gogh....

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The first ever exhibition devoted to Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits across his entire career will take place at The Courtauld Gallery from 3 February – 8 May 2022.

Van Gogh. Self-Portraits takes as its springboard Van Gogh’s iconic Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, one of the most celebrated works in The Courtauld’s collection, and will bring together around half of the self-portraits Van Gogh created during his short years as a painter – an exciting opportunity, given that many of these works are rarely lent.

This will be the first time that the full span of Van Gogh’s self-portraiture has been explored in an exhibition. An outstanding selection of more than 15 self-portraits will be brought together to trace the evolution of Van Gogh’s self representation, from his early Self-Portrait with a Dark Felt Hat, created in 1886 during his formative period in Paris, to Self-Portrait with a Palette, painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in September 1889, one of his last self-portraits before his death in 1890.

The exhibition will be presented in The Courtauld’s new Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries and will be the first in the new Morgan Stanley Series of high-profile temporary exhibitions at The Courtauld. It will showcase Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear alongside masterpieces from major international collections, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Detroit Institute of Arts; the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC; the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the National Gallery, London. Several works in the exhibition were last together in Van Gogh’s studio and have never been reunited, until now.

The brand new Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries, created out of former office, conservation and circulation spaces, will enable The Courtauld to expand its acclaimed programme of international loan exhibitions. Situated on the top floor of Somerset House, this suite of two galleries, which will be unveiled when The Courtauld reopens in November 2021, is part of a major refurbishment project to revitalise and open up the Gallery, and to create state-of-the-art facilities, providing a transformed home for its internationally-renowned art collection.

Professor Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director of The Courtauld, said: “As custodian of one of Van Gogh’s most important self-portraits, the opportunity to bring its peers together in one show is a tremendously exciting one for The Courtauld. The new Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries will be stunning spaces for visitors to enjoy these works, and we are particularly grateful to Denise Coates for the generous support, which has enabled their creation. We would also like to thank Morgan Stanley, for their leadership and support of ‘The Morgan Stanley Series’, presenting The Courtauld’s acclaimed temporary exhibitions from 2022, and other lead donors to the Van Gogh exhibition, including Kenneth C. Griffin, and to the Huo Family Foundation for their additional support.”

Denise Coates CBE said: “I feel sure that the newly renovated Courtauld galleries will give all visitors, both in person and online, a world-class opportunity to experience their own connections to visual art. I have found great fulfilment from my own exposure to the visual arts and I am pleased to be able to support that journey for others with The Courtauld.”

Van Gogh was a prolific practitioner of self-portraiture. His appearance is instantly recognisable, with his defined features, bright red hair and piercing gaze. Curated by Dr Karen Serres, Curator of Paintings at The Courtauld, Van Gogh. Self-Portraits will explore the myriad ways Van Gogh approached one of his most enduring subjects: as an outlet for experimenting with new styles, a practical way of securing an available model, a critical tool for psychological introspection, and a means of constructing his own identity and presenting himself to the outside world.

The myth of Van Gogh today is linked as much to his extraordinary life as it is to his stunning paintings. This exhibition will allow both aspects to be explored. It is an opportunity and exhibition never to be repeated as Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear will be permanently on display at The Courtauld Gallery when it reopens and is unlikely to be lent elsewhere for many years to come.

A fully illustrated catalogue, featuring essays by international collaborators and presenting new research, as well as detailed entries on each of the works on display, will be published to coincide with the exhibition.

The Morgan Stanley Series launches with three major temporary exhibitions at The Courtauld Gallery, starting with Van Gogh. Self-Portraits. Further exhibitions will be announced later in 2021.

Franck Petitgas, Head of International at Morgan Stanley, said: “We are delighted to partner with The Courtauld on The Morgan Stanley Series, which will showcase some of the Gallery’s major exhibitions from 2022. We look forward to Van Gogh. Self-Portraits and supporting The Courtauld as it reopens its doors to its internationally renowned collection, right in the heart of London.”

The transformation of The Courtauld has been supported by £11 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a generous donation of £10 million from philanthropists Sir Leonard and Lady Blavatnik, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional major support has been provided by AKO Foundation, the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, The John Browne Charitable Trust, Denise Coates CBE, Crankstart, The Garcia Family Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, Dr Martin and Susanne Halusa, The Linbury Trust, LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton and Oak Foundation. The Courtauld is most grateful to these visionary supporters, alongside others who are making this project and its related activities possible. The collection cared for by The Courtauld Gallery belongs to the Samuel Courtauld Trust.

More details about tickets will be announced later this year.

Exhibition highlights

A self-portrait of Van Gogh wearing a green coat, a blue hat with a black trim, and a bandaged left ear. A Japanese print and an easel can be seen behind him.
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) , Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889), The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
A self portrait of Van Gogh; he is wearing a yellow straw hat, a blue shirt and gazing at the viewer with a serious expression
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) Self-Portrait with Straw Hat, 1887, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Bridgeman Images
A self portrait of vincent van gogh; he is gazing towards the viewer
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Self-Portrait, 1887, The Art Institute of Chicago. Creative Commons Zero (CC0).
A Self-Portrait of Van Gogh as a Painter; he is holding paint brushes and looking at his easel
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Self-Portrait as a Painter, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

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