Monday, May 30, 2016

The Feast of Saint John (ca.1875)

Jules Breton: The Feast of Saint John

"I recently saw Jules Breton with his wife and two daughters. Physically he reminded me of J. Maris, though he has dark hair.

When I have the chance I’ll send you a book of his, Les champs et la mer, which contains all his poems.

He has a beautiful painting at the Salon, The Feast of St John, peasant girls dancing on a summer evening round the St John’s bonfire, in the background the village with its church and the moon above it.

    Dance, young maidens, dance,
    As you sing your songs of love!
    Tomorrow, at break of day,
    You’ll go, hastening to ply your sickles."

[Letter from Vincent Van Gogh to Theo Van Gogh, Monday, 31 May 1875]

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