1. This is the only time that Theo addresses his brother in this way, in what is for him a long, open-hearted letter that betrays the anxiety he is feeling.

2. Ass’s milk was rather expensive: Theo and Jo’s normal milk bill (21 June) had been 13.80 francs, whereas the milk bill of 15 July amounted to 37.50 francs (Account book 2002, p. 77).

3. Theo was thinking of setting up in business on his own. The uncertainty of his future at Boussod, Valadon & Cie had been on his mind for some time; in April he had spoken openly to H.G. Tersteeg about his grievances against his employers. Tersteeg wrote the following: ‘It does me good, for you and for myself, that you’ve poured your heart out to me ... All the same, it is a splendid thing that it has come to an outburst with the gentlemen, and I wish you luck in having voiced your opinion so frankly. You will see how such a thunderstorm clears the air ... Keep courage, stay calm and prudent, and seek the strength for it in your wife and child; that will remain for you the best rule of life’ (FR b1368, 7 April 1890).

4. It is possible that Theo wrote ‘Anvers’ (Antwerp) instead of ‘Auvers’.

a. Read: ‘sereins’.

5. Marguerite Gachet at the piano (F 772 / JH 2048

) and Wheatfields (F 775 / JH 2038

). Van Gogh had sent descriptions and letter sketches of them (see letter 893).

6. This letter from Peyron to Vincent, enclosed with letter 891, is not known.

7. For Quost’s Easter flowers , see letter 866, n. 10. Theo’s plan to exhibit it was probably never realized, because a week later (on 7 July 1890) the painting was purchased at the Salon for 1,200 francs by the French state (Paris, Musée d’Orsay, Documentation).

8. This was probably meant to be filled in as ‘cons’ (bastards).

9. Camille Corot, Souvenir of Nemi. Rocks and shrubs, 1844 (The Hague, The Mesdag Collection). Ill. 2319

. Theo had bought it from Dorio on 5 April 1890 for 3,000 francs, after which Tersteeg sold it to Mesdag on 23 June 1890 for 8,064 francs. See RKD, Goupil Ledgers, no. 20439, and cat. The Hague 1996, pp. 133-134, cat. no. 65.