Vincent Van Gogh s Quest: In the Footsteps of the Artist

Vincent Van Gogh s Quest: In the Footsteps of the Artist AMSTERDAM, PARIS, AND ARLES May 12 22, 2019 The art of Vincent van Gogh has been so widely circulated and commercialized that both the intensity of his vision and the depth and originality of his ideas are not always given the close attention they deserve. This journey will give us a precious chance to regain some of the freshness of perspective the artist s works, ideas and life embody. We will follow van Gogh s efforts to grow in humanity and in artistic expression by reading his letters, primarily those to his brother Theo and by closely examining his and other artists works in collections at the van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Musée d Orsay, and others. Who were the artists that most profoundly shaped van Gogh s work? Which authors left a lasting mark on this multilingual, avid and intelligent reader? What were the lasting values he gave such original and vivid expression to on canvas and paper? What is the source of the heartbreak that aches through so much of his art and that people from all walks of life and all places on the earth reverberate to? These are just a few of the questions we will take on as we discuss our ideas and experiences in lively seminars. Join us on this ambitious journey from Amsterdam to the South of France to develop a deeper and more personal understanding of van Gogh, his work, and the places that inspired him. Readings The Letters of Vincent van Gogh. WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

A WORD ABOUT: What is a Classical Pursuits Literary Adventure? Ann Kirkland founded Classical Pursuits in 1999 to provide thoughtful vacations for inquiring adults, with the world s best literature, art and music as our guides. By exploring and celebrating the particular visions of writers and artists in the location in which their works were created, we paradoxically discover the timeless truths that make these works great. Classical Pursuits Literary Adventures are a collaborative effort. Classical Pursuits develops the themes and selects the leaders. Worldwide Quest is in charge of production, expertly looking after all the logistical arrangements. Most important, with a Classical Pursuits Literary Adventure you will not lose the spontaneity, flexibility, and sense of personal discovery you seek in your own private travels only the logistical hassles. Our adventures are a special balance of: In-depth discussion of important literature; Guided walks to immerse ourselves in the cultural and natural history of a place; Informal talks with local people to provide background and context to our inquiry; Generous unscheduled time; Exceedingly convivial company; And of course, lingering conversation over great meals! What s involved? The only prerequisites are to read before you arrive and to come with an open mind.

Saint-Paul de Mausole NETHERLANDS Amsterdam ENGLAND London BELGIUM GERMANY Paris FRANCE SWITZERLAND ITALY Avignon LEADER Nella Cotrupi is a scholar, lawyer, and educator whose work has focused on the social, ethical, and political engagements of literature. She has led past tours to the Naples of Elena Ferrante and Trieste s connection to James Joyce and Italo Svevo. Nella has been a student of van Gogh s thought and art for most of her life, and that fascination continues unabated. WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

Detailed Itinerary Sunday, May 12: Meet in Amsterdam Participants meet at our Amsterdam hotel. Note that arrival transfers are not included in this program. Please make independent arrangements to reach our hotel by 3:00 p.m. Our program begins with our briefing, followed by dinner together. Overnight: Hotel Arena, Amsterdam Meals: Dinner Monday, May 13: Amsterdam Nella s morning discussion in a private room at the hotel introduces the themes of the trip. Then we set off on foot for the Van Gogh Museum, where we visit the world s largest collection of works by the artist. Explore van Gogh s paintings, drawings, and letters in the permanent collection and see his development as an artist in the museum galleries. A curator will join us for a tour of selected works, followed by plenty of time to view the collection. Visit the nearby Stedelijk Museum, specializing in classic modern art and contemporary art and design, including works by van Gogh. To my regret, the two little sketches of Amsterdam are quite badly damaged. They got wet on the journey; then the little panels warped when they dried, and dust &c. got into them. I m sending them all the same to show you that if, in the space of an hour, I want to dash off an impression somewhere, I m beginning to be able to do this in the same sentiment as others who analyze their impressions. And give themselves a reason for what they see. This is something other than feeling, that s to say undergoing impressions there may perhaps be a great deal between experiencing impressions and analyzing them, that s to say taking them apart and putting them together again. But it s enjoyable to put something down in a rush. (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Nuenen, October 1885) Overnight: Hotel Arena, Amsterdam Tuesday, May 14: Excursion to Neunen and the Kröller-Müller Museum Today we travel by private coach to visit two special sites associated with the artist s time in Holland. Van Gogh lived and worked in the town of Nuenen from 1883 to 1885. Here we ll visit the Vincentre; the permanent exhibition uses modern audiovisual technology to tell the story of van Gogh s relationship with the town through readings of passages from letters he wrote and through multimedia presentations of people and places he encountered. After lunch in the area, proceed to the Kröller- Müller Museum to view the collection, which includes almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings by van Gogh, telling the story of his life and work from his novice years in the Belgian Borinage to his death in Auvers. Works by other modern masters are also on view. Helen Kröller-Müller accumulated this unique collection between 1908 and 1929; the attention she devoted to van Gogh contributed greatly to the recognition his work currently enjoys. We return to Amsterdam at the end of the day. I ve left out some details I wanted to say how this ruin shows that for centuries the peasants have been laid to rest there in the very fields that they grubbed up in life I wanted to say how perfectly simply death and burial happen, coolly as the falling of an autumn leaf... (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Nuenen, June 1885) Overnight: Hotel Arena, Amsterdam Wednesday, May 15: By train to Paris This morning Nella hosts a second discussion focused on van Gogh s letters. In the early afternoon, travel by train (three and a half hours) to Paris. Transfer to our hotel by private coach. After settling into our hotel, enjoy dinner at La Bonne Franquette (pictured, left), where van Gogh painted his famous Guinguette. Van Gogh lived nearby with his brother Theo and frequented the restaurant and its outdoor garden. I ve rented a small room in Montmartre which you d like; it s small, but overlooks a little garden full of ivy and Virginia creeper. (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Paris, July 1885) Overnight: Hotel Mercure Montmartre Meals: Breakfast, Dinner WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

Thursday, May 16: Paris Musée d Orsay Following the morning discussion, head to the Musée d Orsay by metro (tickets provided), where we focus on the largest collection of van Gogh works outside the Netherlands. The paintings are mainly from his French period and show his artistic development in Paris and Auvers. We ll view paintings such as Van Gogh s Bedroom in Arles after studying his letters to his brother Theo in which he explained what inspired him to paint the picture and Starry Night, which he described in detail in other letters to Theo and to the painter Emile Bernard. In Antwerp I did not even know what the Impressionists were, now I have seen them and though not being one of the club, yet I have much admired certain Impressionist pictures Degas, nude figure Claude Monet, landscape. (Letter to Horace Mann Livens, Paris, October 1886) Overnight: Hotel Mercure Montmartre Friday, May 17: Excursion to Auvers Van Gogh spent the final, highly productive, months of his life in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise. Following his discharge from the asylum in St-Rémy, he came to this small town near Paris to be closer to his brother Theo and to live on his own under the supervision of his doctor, Paul Gachet. We ll travel to Auvers by private coach with our guide to visit key sites in the village, including the church he painted (which he compared to his studies of the church in Nuenen), the Auberge Ravoux where he lived, Gachet s house, and the cemetery where he and his brother are buried. We ll consider the many letters van Gogh wrote during this period. With that I have a larger painting of the village church an effect in which the building appears purplish against a sky of a deep and simple blue of pure cobalt, the stained-glass windows look like ultramarine blue patches, the roof is violet and in part orange. In the foreground a little flowery greenery and some sunny pink sand. (Letter to Willemien van Gogh, Auvers-sur-Oise, June 1890) Overnight: Hotel Mercure Montmartre Saturday, May 18: By train to Avignon This morning we travel by fast train (three hours) from Paris to Avignon. We are met here by our private coach and guide and head for Arles, where we spend the next four days. En route, stop at the fantastic Carrières de Lumières, a former quarry developed as an art-based multimedia show, projecting images of paintings set to music. Van Gogh lived in Arles for more than a year and enjoyed the sunshine and vibrant colours of Provence. The appeal that these vast landscapes have for me is very intense. And so I ve felt no annoyances in spite of some essentially annoying circumstances, the mistral and the mosquitoes. If a view makes one forget those little vexations, there must be something in it. (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Arles, July 1888) Overnight: Arles Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Van Gogh garden in Arles Sunday, May 19: Arles Following our morning discussion at the hotel, we set off on foot to visit key sites in the city. Start at the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh to view the current exhibition and visit the Espace Van Gogh, built in the 16th century as Arles main hospital. This was where van Gogh was committed after the infamous episode of cutting off his left earlobe in December 1888. As we walk through the town, we ll stop at the Café du Forum wherevan Gogh painted the famous Café Terrace at Night and wrote in detail about his approach to the painting. In the past they used to draw, and paint the picture from the drawing in the daytime. But I find that it suits me to paint the thing straightaway. It s quite true that I may take a blue for a green in the dark, a blue lilac for a pink lilac, since you can t make out the nature of the tone clearly. But it s the only way of getting away from the conventional black night with a poor, pallid and whitish light, while in fact a mere candle by itself gives us the richest yellows and oranges. (Letter to Willemien van Gogh, Arles, September 1888) Overnight: Arles Meals: Breakfast, Dinner WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

Monday, May 20 Arles: Excursion to Saint-Rémyde-Provence Van Gogh spent a year in the Saint-Paul de Mausole psychiatric institution in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. He painted many of his most famous works here and wrote about his experiences. We ll visit the town and surrounding by private coach with our guide. The monastery still functions as a psychiatric clinic; we ll visit the part of the centre open to the public. We ll also stroll along the boulevard Mirabeau and the scenic areas of cypresses and olive trees that van Gogh painted and wrote about. The cypresses still preoccupy me, I d like to do something with them like the canvases of the sunflowers because it astonishes me that no one has yet done them as I see them. It s beautiful as regards lines and proportions, like an Egyptian obelisk. And the green has such a distinguished quality. It s the dark patch in a sun-drenched landscape, but it s one of the most interesting dark notes, the most difficult to hit off exactly that I can imagine. (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, June 1889) Overnight: Arles Tuesday, May 21: Arles Following our morning discussion in a private room at the hotel, we continue exploring Arles on foot, visiting sites where van Gogh painted and of which he wrote extensively: the ancient Roman necropolis of Les Alyscamps; the Jardin d Eté; the amphitheatre where he attended bullfights; and the banks of the Rhone River. I think that you d like the leaf-fall that I ve done. It s lilac poplar trunks cut by the frame where the leaves begin. These tree-trunks, like pillars, line an avenue where old Roman tombs coloured lilacblue are lined up to right and left. Now the ground is covered as if by a carpet with a thick layer of orange and yellow leaves fallen. Some are still falling, like snowflakes. And in the avenue dark figurines of lovers. The top of the painting is a very green meadow and no sky, or almost none. (Letter to Theo van Gogh, Arles, November 1888) Overnight: Arles Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Wednesday, May 22: Depart Avignon After breakfast this morning, we are transferred by coach to the Avignon train station. There are convenient connections to Paris, to Charles de Gaulle Airport, and to other points in the south of France. Meals: Breakfast Note: The itinerary and accommodation described here are subject to change due to logistical arrangements, artists schedules and to take advantage of local events. WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

Aerial view of Arles TOUR DETAILS Tour Cost (per person): C$5245 Taxes and Gratuities: C$250 Single supplement: C$1395 If you are travelling on your own and would like to share accommodation, we would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. If we are unable to do so, the single cost applies. Group Size: 12 16 participants What s Included: Accommodation in double occupancy in hotels listed or similar Meals as indicated in the itinerary including water, tea, coffee Excursions by private vehicle All activities as indicated in the itinerary All entrance fees Gratuities for local guides, drivers, hotel and group meals (as indicated above) Taxes (as indicated above) Fully escorted by Nella Cotrupi Not Included: Roundtrip airfare from your home Arrival transfer from the airport to the hotel in Amsterdam Items of a personal nature Meals other than those mentioned above Beverages with meals Travel insurance Any item not mentioned in included features above Payment Details: A non-refundable deposit of C$500 per person is required to reserve a space on this tour. A second deposit of C$1000 is required six months prior to departure. Final payment is due three months prior to departure. WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

WHAT TO EXPECT Joining Instructions This tour begins with our briefing at 5:00 p.m. on May 12. Please note that arrival transfers from the airport to the hotel in Amsterdam are not included. The tour concludes with a single complimentary transfer from the hotel to the Avignon train station on May 22. Please contact us to verify timing of this transfer prior to making any ongoing arrangements. Level of Activity: Moderate We will be walking extensively on this tour. You should be comfortable walking up to three hours unassisted. We will also be visiting museums where you should be comfortable standing on hard surfaces. Note that not all museums have elevators. Accommodation We are staying in a mix of three- and four-star hotels selected for location and charm. All rooms have private facilities. WiFi is available at all hotels. Transportation We will be using a mix of public transportation and private coaches. Please refer to the daily itinerary for details. Weather We expect mainly sunny skies with some slight possibility of showers. Temperatures will likely range from highs of 20 C to overnight lows of 14 C. Travel Documents You will require a passport for this trip. Please ensure it is valid for at least three months beyond your scheduled return home. ADDITIONAL INFO Extend your Stay If you are interested in exploring more of this region, we would be happy to design a personalized extension for you either before or after this tour. Please let us suggest some options, based on your time available, budget and interests. Terms and Conditions For additional information about our terms and conditions, please refer to your booking form, the current brochure or our website. All participants booking with Worldwide Quest are covered by the terms of the Ontario Travel Industry Act (Worldwide Quest International, Ontario - License # 2667946). Cancellation Policy All payments are non-refundable, however you may transfer your initial deposit for any land tour to another tour 90 days or more prior to your scheduled departure date. Initial deposits for cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your second payment and your final payment are non-refundable and nontransferable. If you cancel within 90 days prior to trip departure, all associated trip costs are non-refundable. The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credits will be given for services not used. In the event of a cancellation, you must notify Worldwide Quest immediately and in writing. Travel Insurance We urge you to ensure that you have adequate cancellation and medical insurance in place, should an unexpected event cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip or should the tour not be operable per our terms and conditions. We will offer you Manulife insurance coverage. Medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage is mandatory on all our tours. HOW TO BOOK Please contact the Worldwide Quest Office for more information and to secure your booking. 1-800-387-1483 416-633-5666 travel@worldwidequest.com WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 TRAVEL@WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 TICO #2667946