National Gallery unveils Van Gogh exhibit

The National Gallery has unveiled a new exhibition: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers, in its first tribute to the artist.

Spanning eight rooms with over 50 paintings, the exhibition delves into Van Gogh’s inspirations and his time in Arles and Saint-Rémy in France. 

The exhibition showcases paintings loaned from other galleries around the world and includes many from private collections, rarely seen by the public. 

Director of the National Gallery Dr Gabrielle Finaldi said: “This is the first exhibition devoted to Van Gogh ever held at the National Gallery.

“It marks two centuries of the Gallery’s existence and one since its acquisition of Sunflowers.”

Loaned paintings include one of the Sunflowers series which can usually be found in the Museum of Philadelphia and has not been seen before in the National Gallery.

There is also Starry Night Over the Rhone which is a must see for fans of the painter, especially as Starry Night is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the USA.

Recent Kingston University Fine Art graduate Olivia Morgan said she “really enjoyed” going to see the exhibition.

Morgan said: “I love Van Gogh’s work so to see it in person was a once in a lifetime experience.”

Visiting this exhibition was an unbelievable experience, as a major impressionist art and Van Gogh fan, I loved seeing paintings I perhaps may never be able to see in my lifetime.”

The exhibition will run until December 8 for non members (January 19 for members), with a student price of £26, and an adult price of £28.