In the Netherlands, a study was conducted, during which it turned out that the two portraits, of which the author in question did belong to the brush by Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh Museum in conjunction with the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage and the Shell company conducted a study of two female portraits whose brush before Van Gogh was in doubt. Based on the data obtained, the experts concluded that these pictures were indeed met the great Dutch post.

Both of female portraits in the collection include Van Gogh, and were presumably written or in Antwerp (1885-1886), either in Paris (1886-1888). However, for many years, their attribution remains uncertain. The point is that academic style, which were written on both pictures, is not characteristic of Van Gogh, and because of their similarity to other works is not striking. Nevertheless, the style was quite popular in the late XIX century, and many experts believe that these pictures are most likely written by some of the prominent contemporary painter.

A recent study showed that the grounds for the assumptions of this kind does not. The style in which the written work, does have analogues in the creative legacy of the master - in particular, a self-master, and sketches from sitting naked girl, which were written in spring 1886. During this period, van Gogh studied at the studio of artist-akademista Fernand Kormona (Fernand Cormon) and under his leadership, hone their skills of classical painting. For Engineering and colors, and a self-portrait, and sketch of naked girls have much in common with women's portraits, the authorship of which was in question.

Based on the findings of the stylistic similarities, the scientists decided to explore all four products, and compare women's portraits with works of 1886. It turned out that the stretcher all the paintings are so similar, that there were grounds for believing that they were issued by the same manufacturer. Moreover, on the back of one of the female portraits revealed a stamp seller of products for artists, whose shop was in the vicinity of the apartment, which at that time were Vincent van Gogh and his brother.

With each piece of paint samples were taken. These small fragments were studied under a microscope, and were scanned using electron microscope, SEM-EDX. Samples were virtually identical: they have the same mixture of pigments in darker layers of paint.

In aggregate, all data obtained were reasonable grounds for re-attribution of the two female portraits by Van Gogua. However, the names of models is still a mystery.

exhibition detailing the history reatributsii women's portraits can be seen in the Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum from 31 October 2008 to September 20, 2009.

Source: artdaily.com