1. It is impossible to say which writer Van Gogh is referring to. Artists battling madness feature in many French novels, by Balzac, Zola and De Goncourt, among others. See Max Milner, ‘Le peintre fou’, Romantisme 19, no. 66 (1989), pp. 5-21.
2. Ravine (F 661 / JH 1871 [2881]).
[2881]
3. The Van Gogh family was related to the Van de Sande Bakhuyzen family; see letter 22, n. 9.
4. Pine trees with setting sun (F 652 / JH 1843 [2863]).
[2863]
5. On 6 December Vincent had sent Theo seven paintings intended for Mrs van Gogh and Willemien. See letter 824.
6. Women picking olives (F 655 / JH 1869 [2879]).
[2879]
7. Vincent’s sister Anna and her husband, Joan van Houten, had two daughters, Sara and Annie.
8. Anthon van Rappard had stayed with the Van Goghs in Etten in June and October 1881; in May 1884 he stayed with them in Nuenen (see letters 168, 176 and 446).
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