THE HUMANITY OF DR. GACHET
On 15 May 1990 The Portrait of Doctor Gachet, a painting by Vincent Van Gogh was sold within three minutes for $82.5 million (U.S.) to Ryoei Saito, Japan's second-largest paper manufacturer.
In fact, Vincent did two portraits of Gachet: this and a companion piece. In his original catalogue raisonné, Jacob Baart de la Faille considered the work above to be the superior of the two, but the editors of the 1970 catalogue disagreed and maintained that both works were the product of comparable skill. Whatever the opinion, it's clear that this particular Gachet portrait has had the far more colourful history.
The plant on the table in front of Gachet. This is foxglove, from which the drug digitalis is derived. Some consider this to be a symbol for Gachet's profession or perhaps an indication that Van Gogh himself was being treated with digitalis while under Gachet's care.
Mr. Saito wanted this painting he acquired and a Renoir painting to be cremated with him at the time of his death. Fortunately or unfortunately, his company went into decline and the paintings were sold by Sothebys. These works are still with us.
The Gachet painting survived Nazi banishment, locked in a dark room where “Degenerate Art” was held hostage until after the war. The painting has been sold and resold, many times since Vincent Van Gogh’s sister in law sold it for a few hundred francs in 1868.
WHO WAS DR. GACHET?
Paul Gachet became a physician who specialized in the melancholic illnesses of the great writers and painters of his time. He was an amateur painter himself. In his lifetime he treated Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet, Gustave Courbet, Champfleury, Victor Hugo and later Paul Cézanne. He was a friend of the chemist Henri Nestlé and prescribed Nestlé's new powdered milk supplement to some of his child patients.
Vincent Van Gogh’s brother, Theo van Gogh, thought that Gachet's background and sensitivity toward artists would make him an ideal doctor for Vincent during his recovery from physically collapse and a mental breakdown.
Dr.Gachet treated Van Gogh in the twelve weeks before his suicide. Van Gogh continued to drink and smoke heavily against Doctors’ orders. Brother Theo and Gachet were the only supports in place for Vincent after his year long internment in an asylum
Gachet had argued that "all the great men, philosophers, tyrants, the great conspirators, the great criminals, the great poets, the great artists" suffered from the melancholic illness. It was his romantic contention that it was only this group of elite or desperate men who would strive to change a time or place to replace their melancholy with an adjusted reality.
Gachet cared for Van Gogh to the best of his ability. His collection of art that was branded as impressionist trash fed the poor artist, allowed great writers to eat for another day, and eventually made him one of the most unintentional but prodigious collectors of impressionist art of the 19th century. His love for art, and his desire to enter the ranks as an artist himself were impressive.
Gachet is remembered in being honoured over the years with galleries, schools and helping institutions which bear his name.
In Vancouver, the Gallery Gachet honours Dr. Gachet in naming their gallery for him.They are the presenters of works by a range of gifted artists who have mental health issues. Their exhibitions and installations are creative, often brilliant and honour the works of local artisans who have a wonderful venue in which to present and curate their works. The legacy of Dr. Gachet is his dedication to artists, and their spiritual, intellectual and physical well being.This is carried on five generations later by Gallery Gachet.
GALLERY GACHET WEBSITE
http://www.gachet.org/
CONTACT OR VISIT GALLERY GACHET
88 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1K2, ph: 604.687.2468, fax:604.687.1196
* Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 12-6pm.
* Office Hours: Staff may also be available during non-Gallery hours through the week.
