Wednesday 21 October 2009

Art writings online for free

Vincent van Gogh's letters

There is a new edition of Vincent van Gogh's letters in six volumes with annotations and numerous illustrations: Vincent van Gogh - The Letters: The Complete Illustrated and Annotated Edition by Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakker.

This publication coincides with an exhibition (until 3 January 2010) at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam presenting a selection of these letters. The exhibition will then come to England at the Royal Academy of Art in London from 23 January 2010 until 18 April 2010. The good news is that you can also read the letters online.

Van Gogh - The letters is an extraordinary web resource. The site gives you access to the letters in their original language, an English translation and the facsimile. Even better, you can search by correspondent, locations, or search all the letters using key words.


Self-portrait - Oil on cardboard 1887 (42 × 33.7 cm) - Collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Source: Wikimedia


Other artists’ writings available online for free


Leonardo da Vinci


are both available on the Guttenberg Project site

John Ruskin (1819-1900)


James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)


Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)


If you know about other artists' writings on the internet, please share your source by leaving a comment.

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