Van Gogh painting ‘to fetch more than €40m’

A VAN Gogh masterwork expected to fetch more than €40 million at auction went on display yesterday.

L’Arlesienne, Madame Ginoux was unveiled at Christie’s auction house in central London.

The masterpiece goes under the hammer at Christie’s in New York on May 2 as part of an impressionist and modern art sale.

Van Gogh created the portrait while institutionalised in the asylum of St Paul de Mausole in Saint Remy de Provence in February 1890.

It is one of five oils executed during that period as a homage to his friend and collaborator Paul Gauguin, and the only one of the series intended for Gauguin himself.

Madame Marie Ginoux was proprietress of the Cafe de la Gare in Arles, an establishment frequented by both artists.

Both drew sketches of Madame Ginoux and Van Gogh used Gauguin’s sketch as the basis for his painting.

In the portrait she is reading Charles Dickens’ Christmas Stories and what is believed to be Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Van Gogh presented the work to Gauguin on June 17, 1890 and wrote: “It gives me enormous pleasure when you say the Arlesienne’s portrait, which was based strictly on your drawing, is to your liking.”