When you look into the sculpture's eyes you get a glimpse into the soul of a deep and intense visionary.

PRESS RELEASE – British Artist's Sculpture of Van Gogh to be unveiled in the grounds of the French Hospital where Van Gogh was treated for his severed ear. Part of the new Britain and Europe Van Gogh Sculpture Trail.

WHAT: Sculpture of Vincent Van Gogh to be Installed in France.

WHERE: Espace Van Gogh, Arles, France

WHEN: Saturday 9th March 2019

CONTACT: Anthony Padgett 0790 2342448 anthonydpadgett@yahoo.co.uk

Artist Anthony Padgett has the honour and privilege of his work being sited as part of the 130th anniversary of Van Gogh's time in Arles. The work is being sited in the hospital where Van Gogh was treated after cutting off his ear. The work has been organised in France by Vincent Ramon, President of the AVA (Friends of Old Arles) - vincent-ramon@orange.fr

http://www.amisduvieilarles.com/ and the AVA Board of Directors

Arles, France, is where Van Gogh lived as an artist from 1888-1889. There he created an artists' colony in the Yellow House and where he infamously cut his ear off. The Espace Van Gogh is where he was treated for the severed ear. It is a centre for Van Gogh Tourism and the sculpture will be prominently sited in the gardens. Van Gogh was to die in 1890. The base of the sculpture incorporates items from his life including a 19th century cut-throat razor and the same pipe that he smoked that is on Vincent's famous Arles "Chair" painting in the National Gallery.

The sculpture is the keystone work for a new trail of Padgett's sculptures of Van Gogh across Britain and Europe. Prior to this the artist's time in Britain has been largely un-recognised in European trails. Said Padgett "Whilst Van Gogh had lived in Britain there was no public sculpture to him. So I felt a sculptural project would be a valuable undertaking."

The work is part of a year long project "A Year With Vincent" by award winning artist Anthony Padgett. Details can be seen on www.ayearwithvincent.co.uk

In total there are 7 of the sculptures (each a different colour) to be permanently sited in England, France, Holland and Belgium. The locations where chosen after careful research into the life of Van Gogh. They are:

- Espace Van Gogh in Arles (to be unveiled on 9th March 2019), France, where Van Gogh lived as an artist 1888-1889 in the Yellow House and where he infamously cut his ear off,

- the Van Gogh Library in Nuenen, Holland, (already sited) where Van Gogh lived at the family home and was an artist 1883-1885

- in the Borinage in Belgium (to be unveiled 2019) where he was a missionary to the mining community 1878-1879.

- in 4 places Vincent lived in the UK:

- Brixton (already sited) Art Dealer 1873-1875,

- Ramsgate (to be unveiled 15th June) - Teacher 1876

- Isleworth (to be unveiled 16th March) - Teacher 1876

- Welwyn (already sited )- where he walked 100 miles to visit his sister 1876.

The work coincides with a resurgance of interest in Van Gogh and the blockbuster exhibition at Tate Britain of Van Gogh's work which will celebrate his time in England.

Anthony (50 years old) said "I have had a life-long interest in art and was struck by how Van Gogh's work was so unique and distinctive. This made me want to explore his technique and create my own work as a result. I spent a year creating 80 artworks around Vincent as I wanted to engage in his intensity to gain an insight into his life. This was so I would be better placed to create a sculpture that captured some of his personality. When you look into the sculpture's eyes you get a glimpse into the soul of a deep and intense visionary."

Padgett's sculptures are in major galleries, museums, libraries and Cathedrals. His bust of Van Gogh is already sited in Brixton and this is his second public sculpture in London, the first being of 1920s poet Humbert Wolfe at Eccleston Square Gardens, near Victoria Station. His busts of First World War poet Wilfred Owen are sited through the UK.

For further details contact the artist Anthony Padgett 0790 2342448 anthonydpadgett@yahoo.co.uk

Images: Anthony Padgett with sculpture

Espace Van Gogh, Arles

Pipe from Van Gogh's "Chair"