Lot 8: Anton Gerhard Alexander Ridder van Rappard (1858-1892)

Anton Gerhard Alexander Ridder van Rappard (1858-1892)
Oudevrouwenhuis te Terschelling: the Old Women-house on West-Terschelling
signed and dated 'A.v. Rappard. 83' (lower left)
oil on canvas
26 x 46 cm.

Brussels, L'Essor, 22 December 1883-19 January 1884, cat.no. 106, as: Hospice de vieilles femmes.
Antwerp, Wereldtentoonstelling voor Schone Kunsten, May-October 1885, cat.no. 110, as: Après le café, refuge des vieillards.

Please compare with the oil 'Oude vrouwenhuis op Terschelling' by Van Rappard in the collection of the Gemeentemuseum, The Hague (inv.no. 21-1930) which Van Rappard made after a trip to Terschelling in September 1883 (see: J.W. Brouwer, Anthon van Rappard, companion & correspondent of Vincent van Gogh, his life & all his works, Amsterdam 1974, p. 85.). According to Brouwer the current painting is the first version of this series and is painted earlier than the work in the Gemeentemuseum. His friend Vincent van Gogh visited Van Rappard in December 1883 in Utrecht and saw his work. In March 1884 Van Gogh wrote to Van Rappard 'voor de schetsen van U b.v. die ik zag, het wevertje en de Terschellingsche wijven, voel ik iets het is een greep in 't hart der dingen.' (see: letter 441).