Lot 134

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Van Gogh Handwritten 115 Words, “Yes, God is everywhere!" -- the Rarest Artist Manuscript

Vincent Van Gogh handwritten hymn verses In English & Dutch, 115 Words, among the rarest and most desirable examples of manuscript in the autograph world. The last full letter to sell was at Sotheby's and it fetched $350,000 nearly a decade ago. A fragment of just over 20 words, arguably inferior in content, was sold by RR Auctions eight years ago for over $50,000! This was the last time an example appeared on the market before the present piece. Of course his original artwork sells in the hundred million dollar range.

A paper fragment inscribed with approximately 115 full and partials words in the hand of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). N.d., but probably the late 1870s. N.p. Van Gogh has copied out two verses in English of the hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" recto, and also two stanzas in Dutch from the hymn known as "Gods Overaltegenwoordigheid” or “God’s Presence Everywhere” verso. On cream red-ruled paper. Trimmed along the top and right edges. Minor  edge darkening. A later collector pen-inscribed Van Gogh's name in the lower left corner recto, which could be removed or matted away. Else clear, bright, legible, and near fine. Accompanied by a transcript of the portion in English. Provenance: Ex-Noel Goldblatt (ca. 1926-2003) of the famous Goldblatt's Department Store, to a prominent Los Angeles, California collector.

Vincent Van Gogh is best known for his moody self-portraits, vibrant floral still lifes, and dramatic Provençal landscapes. But he also served for a brief time as an evangelical Protestant missionary. This remarkable scrap of paper, inscribed on both sides in Van Gogh's hand, testifies to an early period of the artist's life, when Van Gogh sought refuge in religion. Author Cliff Edwards in his monograph, “Van Gogh and God: A Creative Spiritual Quest,” argues that Van Gogh’s early interest in religion was prompted by a desire to find answers to life’s deepest questions. (This interpretation conflicts with the usual reasons offered by historians, that Van Gogh had had a romantic disappointment, or had become morbidly obsessed with religion.) Viewed through Edwards’ lens, everything that Van Gogh did was oriented towards finding spiritual fulfillment. Van Gogh turned to painting after his attempts at preaching failed because it offered him solace in nature, a place where he felt closest to and at most peace with God. Van Gogh wrestled with religion and spirituality throughout his brief, tortured life. His existential restlessness spurred him on towards finding philosophical and spiritual enlightenment.

Van Gogh inscribed the first and eighth stanzas of the well-known Protestant hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" recto. The original poem written in Latin was attributed to a 12th century Belgian Cistercian abbot named Arnulf of Leuven. American Presbyterian minister James Waddel Alexander provided a popular translation of the hymn into English around 1830. There are 80 words found in the two stanzas, all written in Van Gogh's elegant script as follows, in its untouched entirety as:

"O sacred head once wounded
With grief and shame bowed down
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns thine only crown
O Sacred head, what glory
What bliss till now was Thine
Yes, though despised and gory
I joy to call Thee mine

--

What language shall I borrow
To praise the heavenly Friend
For this Thy dying sorrow
Thy pity without end?
O make me thine for ever
And should I fainting be,
Lord let me never, never
Grow cold in love for Thee.

--."

On the reverse of the paper fragment, Van Gogh inscribed approximately 36 full and partial words of a Dutch Reformed Church hymn called "Gods Overaltegenwoordigheid” or “God’s Presence Everywhere,” identified as Hymn #143 in some texts. The 4-stanza hymn, attributed to Christoph Christian Sturm, first appeared in an 1806 book of psalms and Gospel chants published by Johannes Allart in Amsterdam. Van Gogh copied out the last two lines of the first stanza, and all eight lines of the last stanza. The first letters of each line (appearing in the transcript in brackets) were lost when the fragment was originally trimmed, but we can extrapolate the original words in Dutch.

Transcript of the Dutch:

"[O]mlaag en hoog verheven,
[J]a, overal is God!
--
[?]uich, Christen ’ aan mijn slinke [most versions use “Roem” or “Praise” as the first word; Van Gogh’s first word is unknown]
[E]n regter zijd’ is God:
[W]aar ’k magtloos nederzinke,
[Of] bitter lijd’, is God:
[W]aar trouwe vriendenhanden
[N]iet helpen, daar is God
[I]n dood en doodsche banden
[J]a, overal is God!"

English translation:

"Exalted high and low,
Yes, God is everywhere!
--
[?] Christian ’ close to my cheek
And on my right hand is God:
Whenever I lie down in defeat,
Or suffer bitterly, God is there:
Where faithful friends' hands
Do not help, there is God
In death and deathly bonds
Yes, God is everywhere!"

The religious subject matter of these poems strongly suggests that the paper fragment dates from the late 1870s, when Van Gogh began exploring Christianity in earnest. Van Gogh appears to have chosen and copied out the hymns with a definite objective in mind. The hymns' emphasis on mercy, sacrifice, and divine love are core components of Evangelical Protestantism.

Van Gogh probably first considered the church because his father and paternal grandfather were ministers. As a young man, Van Gogh studied theology by translating Biblical passages into German, French, and English (of which our example, the paper fragment inscribed with hymns in two languages, is reminiscent.) Van Gogh failed theology and missionary school entrance exams in the Netherlands and Belgium, but he nevertheless was able to secure a six-month-long post as a Protestant missionary in the community of Petit-Wasmes in southern Belgium in late 1878. Van Gogh's zealous undertaking of his evangelical duties alienated local church leaders, and he returned to the Netherlands, depressed and downtrodden, after 14 months. Van Gogh's younger brother Theo suggested he abandon the church and take up art; the rest is history.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

qxp

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

September 29, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000