Vincent: November 24, 1888
“Ladies of Arles — Reminiscence of the Garden at Etten”
One of Vincent’s favourite places to paint is the old Roman cemetery, the Nécropole des Alyscamps. He and Gauguin go there all the time now. The name comes from Elisii Campi — Elysian Fields. The Romans made it their burial ground beyond the city limits, as was their custom.
It used to be quite famous. Wealthy people from all over Europe were interred there for nearly 1,500 years, until they moved St Trophime’s body to St Etienne in the 12th century, and then no one really cared to rest there any longer. He’d been
the first bishop of Arles, in the third century, and they say Jesus was at his funeral!
The graves decayed, but you can still see sarcophagi and monuments, some quite elaborate, along the tree-lined walkway leading up to the St Honorat Church.
Two portraits from November 1888: Van Gogh did likenesses of all of the Roulin clan, who became a second family for him in Arles — father Joseph, a postman, mother Augustine, baby daughter Marcelle and sons Camille and (shown here) 17-year-old Armand.
“L’Arlesienne — Madame Ginoux with Books”
Marie Ginoux was the proprietress of the Café de la Gare on nearby Place Lamartine, and posed for both Vincent and Gauguin at the Yellow House in early November.
