1r:1
Paris, 4 Sept. 75

My dear Theo,
I’m sending you herewith my letter for Ma’s birthday,1 please enclose it with yours. I’ve bought a book about Michel, with etchings after his paintings;2 I’ll send it to you as soon as I’ve finished it. Michel, though, isn’t nearly so beautiful as that landscape described in that passage in Adam Bede,3 which we both found so moving. Bonington,  1v:2 too, almost painted it, and yet that isn’t it either.
When you’ve finished the book I’d like to ask you to give it in my name to Uncle Cor to read, when you have the opportunity of course, though I’m giving it to you. I see the paintings themselves, so naturally you can have the description and etchings after them.
My regards to the Haanebeeks, Carbentuses, Van Stockums, Mauve, Rooses &c. if the occasion presents itself. I wish you the very best. Ever

Your loving brother
Vincent

Give the book on Michel to Mr Tersteeg to read, too.

044

Br. 1990: 044 | CL: 36
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: Paris, Saturday, 4 September 1875
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1. Mrs van Gogh was to turn 56 on 10 September.
2. Alfred Sensier, Etude sur George Michel. Paris 1873. This monograph consists of a detailed biography, a catalogue raisonné and etchings after his paintings. The number of etchings per copy vary in number from seventeen to twenty. Michel is described in the biography as an artist of humble birth, who refused to conform to conventional academic art. Sensier emphasizes Michel’s individualism and his aversion to big cities. Cf. in this context Parsons and McWilliam 1984, pp. 39, 49, 53.
3. Regarding this passage from George Eliot’s Adam Bede, see letter 30, n. 1 and 2.