1. For the paint order, see letter 816. On 17 November 1889 Theo recorded in his account book the purchase of a ‘gilet de chasse’ (hunting waistcoat) for Vincent for 9 francs. See Account book 2002, p. 64.

2. Van Gogh had bought paint on his last visit to Arles; see letter 820.

3. Gauguin had sent Van Gogh a sketch of his painting Christ in the Garden of Olives ; see letter 817. Bernard, too, had recently painted a Christ in the Garden of Olives and had sent a photograph of it to Vincent (see letters 819, n. 4 and 822, n. 10).

4. The letter to Gauguin is not known; the letter to Bernard is letter 822. Bernard had sent photographs not only of the work just mentioned, but also of his paintings The adoration of the shepherds , The annunciation and Christ meeting his mother . See letter 822.

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

6. These five no. 30 canvases of olive groves are Olive trees (F 710 / JH 1856 ), Olive grove (F 707 / JH 1857 ), Olive trees (F 708 / JH 1855 ), Olive grove (F 586 / JH 1854 ) and Women picking olives (F 654 / JH 1868 ). See exhib. cat. Dallas 2021, p. 132 (n. 8).

7. Olive trees with the Alpilles in the background (F 712 / JH 1740 ), Olive trees (F 715 / JH 1759 ) and Olive grove (F 585 / JH 1758 ) were at Theo’s. See letters 805 and 806.

8. Van Gogh is referring to the letter to Isaäcson that he had enclosed with letter 820 to Theo, asking him to forward it.

9. Vincent had seven canvases which he intended his mother and Willemien to have; see letter 811.

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

11. Theo’s health was not at all good. This was confirmed yet again in October 1889, when his application for life insurance was denied. This rejection was a disillusionment and Theo felt that he had let his family down. Jo wrote to her sister Mien: ‘Make sure nobody writes a single word about it or alludes to it in any way – for heaven’s sake make sure they do not do that’ (FR b4294, 28 October 1889; Brief happiness 1999, p. 35).