Programme 3

In Arles, Vincent was set on a downward path. Renting four rooms in the famous Yellow House to use as a studio, he begged Gauguin to join him. The strong, bright colours of the Mediterranean gave him the confidence to experiment more boldly with colours leading to the series of sunflower paintings intended as a decoration for Gauguin's room. Bribed by Theo's offer of money, Gauguin arrived, but the 63 days together were marked by growing tensions. Becoming ever more sexually impotent as a result of drink and mentally unstable, Vincent's thoughts turned to early death. He found inspiration in the night sky, producing the first of his paintings of stars, and immortalising The Night Café run by Joseph and Marie Ginoux at 30 Place Lamartine. Van Gogh's behaviour was becoming more erratic and the two artists' rivalry more intense, and after a regular visit to the town's famous bullfights, van Gogh cut off part of his left ear as a sign of defeat like the bull. He was found in the morning, having almost bled to death, and was taken to hospital. Gauguin left the next day. The ear incident was the final straw for the citizens of Arles, already exasperated by his drinking and sexual excesses. They signed a petition to have him sent away. Spending a year at the progressive asylum of St Remy, Vincent continued to paint at a frantic pace, diagnosed as epileptic and therefore allowed wider freedom. However, continuing mindstorms seemed to coincide with feelings of rejection, brought on first by Theo's marriage and then the birth of his child. Even the sale of his first picture to huge acclaim failed to lift him. He became desperately homesick for the gloomy Dutch landscapes. Released from the asylum as 'cured', Vincent went to Paris before making what was to be his final home at Auvers, under the dubious care of a Dr Gachet. In the last 69 days of his life he created 80 paintings, before Theo's change of plan to visit finally sent Vincent over the edge. On 27 Jul