1. Vincent had sent Theo three photographs of drawings: Peat diggers in the dunes (F 1031 / JH 363 ), Potato grubbers (F 1034 / JH 372 ) and Sower (F 1035 / JH 374 ). See letter 362, n. 7.

2. Vincent had sent the lithographs Weed burners (F 1660 / JH 377 ) and Gardener near a gnarled apple tree (F 1659 / JH 379 ). See letter 363, n. 13. Theo thought them ‘somewhat meagre’ in effect (letter 363, ll. 128-129).

3. The ‘Ecole de Rome’ was the French Academy in Rome, to which young artists proceeded on winning the Prix de Rome. It was the traditional, academic education where students worked with classical models.

4. Van Gogh probably knew this expression from a publication about Tissot; cf. letter 158, n. 26.