Van Gogh's Gardens

By Derek Fell

Book Overview

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most popularly admired and critically acclaimed artists of all time -- exhibitions of his work draw record crowds and his paintings fetch astronomical prices. Of his hundreds of canvases, landscapes and paintings of gardens and flowers remain the most beloved. From the sweeping wheat fields and gnarled olive branches of Provence to extravagant bouquets and fantastic details of irises and sunflowers, van Gogh captured the breathtaking beauty, expansive color spectrum, and complexity of nature at its most compelling.Using van Gogh's eloquent personal letters and dazzling paintings as his foundation, writer and master photographer Derek Fell brings van Gogh's theories and visions of the garden to life in this lavishly illustrated volume. Fell's own expert photography not only captures the countryside, farmland, cottage gardens, and village parks that van Gogh so passionately loved but also brings to life the horticultural world that the artist dreamed of creating. Complemented by a superb selection of his greatest paintings, Van Gogh's Gardens is a marvelous celebration of nature's brilliance and one man's genius.Searching out fragments of van Gogh's world still in existence -- the sunflower fields he tramped through, the courtyard garden of the hospital where he sought treatment -- Fell shows us that the colors and textures of the Impressionists' Provence remain with us today. He also delves deeply into the letters van Gogh wrote and gives us a wonderful discussion of the artist's color theories: Mix geraniums and poppies to create a stunning combination of red, pink, and green, he advised his sister in Holland, or interplant sweet heliotrope and roses to generate a dramatic color harmony between orange and violet.Fell extrapolates on van Gogh's vision of gardens and plants by going one step further -- and the result is a revelation. Rigorously following the advice offered in van Gogh's letters and duplicating the garden motifs he depicted in his paintings, this exceptional gardener has brought the great artist's ideas to vibrant life on his Pennsylvania farm. Van Gogh died in abject poverty, too poor to plant a garden of his own -- but Fell's plantings and photographs show us in dazzling glory how brilliant van Gogh's reflections on color and nature really were.In addition to offering special sections on van Gogh's favorite structures, his bouquets, and the theme gardens he painted,Van Gogh's Gardensincludes a fully illustrated, alphabetical listing of the painter's favorite plants -- from arum to yucca. Both exquisitely beautiful and eminently useful, this marvelous book offers readers the opportunity to create van Gogh's artistic beauty in their own backyards. With a brilliant mix of paintings, photographs, and text,Van Gogh's Gardensallows us to see this master artist's paintings and theories as inspiration for the most beautiful gardens.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743202333
• ISBN13: 9780743202336
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 10.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

A Book for Both Artists and Gardeners

This book was stunning, and much better than expected. Not only did I learn much more about Van Gogh than I could have learned anywhere else, but the quality of the artwork and photographs is outstanding. Details of Van Gogh's paintings are so fine that the brushwork is highly visible. The photos are so well composed, they could be used as practice for reproducing with oils. Photos include not only gardens and plants that Van Gogh knew and painted, but also gardens and designs for gardens that the author planted according to Van Gogh's ideas. All of Fell's books are great (I am getting quite a collection), but he really outdid himself with this one.

For the Artist in the Gardener and the Gardener in the Artist

Derek Fell is a fine photographer and a fine writer about things horticultural. In VAN GOGH'S GARDENS he marries these talents and in doing so has produced a unique book that is bound to fascinate lovers of gardens, Van Gogh devotees, art collectors and museum visitors, and just about everyone who delights in understanding the motivations of artists when viewing their subjects. Fell selects particular paintings by Van Gogh then shows the point of inspiration by photographing the areas visited by van Gogh in his lifetime. Yes, there are the ubiquitous sunflowers, comparing the flowers to the canvas versions of them. But there are also the trees that are part of van Gogh's legacy rarely mentioned. His twisted trunks and branches of olive trees side by side with Fell's gorgeous photographs of the particular types of olive trees that inspired the painter create an art course for the astute observer. His lilac bushes/trees that mesmerized the artist are shared as are the many plants the artist interpreted. Balancing fine photography with excellent reproductions of canvases is an art in itself and Derek Fell has created not only a visual splendor but writes with the depth of a horticulturalist's knowledge that makes this beautiful volume all the more seductive. A very fine addition to the literature on van Gogh. Grady Harp, November 06

Artist's Delight

Photography and an artistic view of the garden by a true gardener. This is the path to paradise for anyone who wants escape from the urban jungle. Even if you can't own a garden, you can imagine your own secret garden with the influence of Vincent Van Gogh.

Award Winning Book

This lavish book of lush photographs has won Derek Fell another award - the Garden Globe Award for Best Photographer from the Garden Writers Association of America. Derek was one of only five individuals selected out of a field of more than 300 entries to receive a 2002 Garden Globe Award for work produced during 2001. This award could easily make Derek the winner of more awards from Garden Writers than any other garden communicator. The book was selected by a panel of garden communication experts - some Pulitzer Prize winners themselves -- who look for the best books, magazines, writers and photographers in the country. This book is more than a collection of beautiful photographs. Derek uses the painter's personal interpretations, color theory and painting techniques to inspire you to re-create van Gogh's breathtaking paintings in your own backyard. Derek even includes tips on creating the picture perfect van Gogh garden of your own, complete with a list of van Gogh's favorite plants. To view all the Garden Globe Awards...

Learn about Van Gogh as gardener....

This book is a great combination of learning about Van Gogh as an articulate gardener, nature lover, and color connoisseur as well as the artist as we already know him. It is a touching story told in a way that allows us to understand how Van Gogh used all these parts of his life and about the intensity with which he lived. His incredible appetite and curiosity about color combinations, the thought that went behind his choices of plants using color and texture as guide, and how he shared these experiences in letters to family. The pictures are gorgeous and yes, it has had an effect on the garden I am currently working on. How can one not be influenced by such genius. My thoughts on what goes into my garden & color perspective will forever be somewhat different, and made better, for having read this book. This book will give everyone who reads it a different way of looking at all gardens, plants, trees - and their selection of all these for their own garden.