The Discus Thrower

Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Antwerp, Februari 1886

chalk on paper, 56.2 cm x 44.3 cm

Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

This drawing by Van Gogh shows a plaster model of Myron's Discus Thrower, a famous sculpture from the ancient world. He drew it at the Antwerp art academy.

His assignment was first to sketch the outlines and then to fill in the shadows and lighter parts of the figure. Van Gogh also devoted considerable energy to the background. He was the only student in his class allowed to do that, because he was making such good progress. He added a heavily shaded area.

F-number
F1364e
JH-number
JH1080
Object number
d0398V1962
Dimensions
56.2 cm x 44.3 cm
Provenance
With his brother Theo van Gogh, Paris, after Fabruary 1886; after his death on 25 January 1891, inherited by his widow, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, and their son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, Paris; administered until her death on 2 September 1925 by Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Bussum/Amsterdam/Laren; transferred by Vincent Willem van Gogh, Laren, to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, Amsterdam, 10 July 1962; agreement concluded between the Vincent van Gogh Foundation and the State of the Netherlands, in which the preservation and management of the collection, and its placing in the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, to be realized in Amsterdam, is entrusted to the State, 21 July 1962; given on loan until the opening of the museum on 2 June 1973 to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; on permanent loan to the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh from 2 June 1973 and at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, since 1 July 1994.
artist
Vincent van Gogh
Credits (obliged to state)
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh aan het werk, 1 May 2013-13 January 2014

Maastricht, MECC, Van Gogh's drawings. Masterpieces from the Van Gogh Museum, 15-24 March 2013

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. The Drawings, 12 October-31 December 2005, no. 33

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh tekenaar. De meesterwerken, 2 July-18 September 2005, no. 33

Hamburg, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Vincent van Gogh. Die Pariser Zeichnungen, 22 March-16 June 2002, no. 12

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Vincent van Gogh tekeningen. Antwerpen & Parijs, 1885-1888, 28 September 2001-6 January 2002, no. zonder nr.

Otterlo, Kröller-Müller Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Tekeningen, 30 March-29 July 1990, no. 138

Nijmegen, Cultureel Centrum de Lindenberg, Kijken naar de Spelen, 26 August-23 September 1972, no. 9

Bern, Kunstmuseum Bern, Vincent van Gogh, 27 November 1954-30 January 1955, no. 120

Leeman, Fred, Prins, Laura, Meedendorp, Teio, Impressionism & beyond : a wonderful journey : a selection from the John & Marine van Vlissingen Art Foundation, 2018, p. 19

Leeman, Fred, Prins, Laura, Meedendorp, Teio, Impressionisme & meer : een prachtige reis : een keuze uit de verzameling van John & Marine van Vlissingen Art Foundation, 2018, p. 19

Uitert, Evert van, Hoyle, Michael, Crimpen, Han van, The Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, 1987, p. 437

Coyle, Laura, The Still-life paintings of Vincent van Gogh and their context, 2007, p. 539

Jooren, Marieke, Van Gogh's drawings : masterpieces from the Van Gogh Museum, p. 28, 30

Vellekoop, Marije, Bakker, Nienke, Dijk, Maite van, Hendriks, Ella, Van Gogh aan het werk, 2013, p. 101-102

Vellekoop, Marije, Bakker, Nienke, Dijk, Maite van, Geldof, Muriel, Hendriks, Ella, Reissland, Birgit, Van Gogh at work, 2019, p. 101-102

Heugten, Sjraar van, Vellekoop, Marije, Zwikker, Roelie, Van Gogh tekenaar : de meesterwerken, 2016, p. 79, 187

Pey, E.B.F., Pickvance, Ronald, Wolk, J. van der, Vincent van Gogh : tekeningen, 1990, p. 191

Heugten, Sjraar van, Vellekoop, Marije, Zwikker, Roelie, Hageman, Monique, Vincent van Gogh drawings : volume 3 : Antwerp & Paris 1885-1888 : Van Gogh Museum, 2001, p. 63-70

Heugten, Sjraar van, Vellekoop, Marije, Zwikker, Roelie, Hageman, Monique, Vincent van Gogh tekeningen : Antwerpen & Parijs 1885-1888 : Van Gogh Museum : 3, 2001, p. 63-70

Search in the collection