1. This was letter 819.

2. Sunflowers in a vase (F 454 / JH 1562 ) and Sunflowers in a vase (F 456 / JH 1561 ). Van Gogh considered these two versions suitable to be exhibited; the two repetitions (F 455 and F 458 ) were intended for Gauguin. See letter 741.

3. Trees with ivy in the garden of the asylum (F 609 / JH 1693 ). Theo had expressed his appreciation of this painting in letter 813, and this must have influenced Vincent in his choice.

4. Orchard in blossom with a view of Arles (F 516 / JH 1685 ). Theo had written in letter 819 that the work was hanging in Tanguy’s shop window and that he thought it splendid.

5. The red vineyard (F 495 / JH 1626 ).

6. Wheatfield at sunrise (F 737 / JH 1862 ).

7. This was letter 817.

8. For Gauguin’s Christ in the Garden of Olives , see letter 817, n. 10.

9. For Bernard’s Christ in the Garden of Olives , see letter 819, n. 4.

10. Van Gogh had written this to Bernard in June 1888; see letter 632.

11. For the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, see letter 625, n. 10.

12. Van Gogh is mistaken: The Light of the World is not by Millais, but by William Holman Hunt. See letter 108, n. 10.

13. Salles had written to Theo on 5 June 1889 that this amount was left after paying the hospital bill and the trip to Saint-Rémy (FR b1053).

14. Van Gogh’s furniture from the Yellow House was in storage at Ginoux’s Café de la Gare; see letter 760, n. 4.

15. A reference to the petition to have Van Gogh placed under restraint, which had been signed by the residents of his neighbourhood in Arles in February 1889. See letter 750, n. 2 and 3.

16. Van Gogh’s first attack in Saint-Rémy had occurred shortly after his visit to Arles (see letter 793).

17. The canvas for Les Vingt which still had to dry was Wheatfield at sunrise (F 737 / JH 1862 ). The other works for the exhibition were already at Theo’s.

18. For Bernard’s portrait Bernard’s grandmother , see letter 655, n. 3.

19. Vincent had previously suggested to Theo that he give one of the Berceuse paintings to Bernard. The latter is in fact known to have had one in his possession: Augustine Roulin (‘La berceuse’) (F 508 / JH 1671 ). It is not known whether he got it from Theo, possibly in exchange for work of his own, or only acquired it later. See letter 776, n. 4.

20. Van Gogh sketched the way he wanted his paintings to be hung on the back of letter 818, which he enclosed in the present letter.

21. This is letter 821 to Maus.