This is the story of one of the world's most iconic images. Leading British specialist on Van Gogh, Martin Bailey explains how and why Van Gogh painted a series of sunflower still lifes in Provence. He then explores the subsequent adventures of the seven pictures and their impact on artists including Gustav Klimt and Henri Matisse. Based on original research, the book presents a fresh view of this most legendary artist.

"To us, Van Gogh's paintings look utterly unique. His vivid palates and wildly interpretive portraits are unmistakably his--yet however revolutionary his style may have been, it was actually built on a strong foundation of paintings by other artists, both his contemporaries and those who came before him. Now, drawing on Van Gogh's own thoughtful and often poetic comments about the artists he venerated, Steven Naifeh gives a gripping account of his...

"Introduces Vincent van Gogh as one of the most unique Impressionist artists by exploring the techniques he used to paint masterpieces such as Starry Night"--Provided by the publisher.