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Channel4 TV is showing a new drama set in Arles (13, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence) in the late 19th Century when Van Gogh and Gauguin shared The Yellow House.” Approaching middle age and still flat broke, both men abandon respectability, family and friends to commit themselves utterly to painting, united by an unshakable belief in the importance of art.

In this brief period of penniless, fraught obscurity they produce between them over 40 acknowledged masterpieces, with a combined current value of almost a billion pounds. The relationship finally ends in an iconic and bloody climax, when Van Gogh cuts off his own ear. Eighteen months after leaving The Yellow House, Van Gogh shot himself, bleeding to death over several days. Years later, Gauguin died, a syphilitic, in self-imposed exile in Tahiti.”

It is quite a dramatic story of these 2 strong-minded creative geniuses, and will doubtless provide good opportunities for lots of sumptuous Provencal scenery.

The programme is screened on Thursday 22 March 2007 at 9pm on Channel 4 - for more info see www.channel4.com

There is also a book by Martin Gayford :The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles ” which was serialised on BBC Radio 4 last year.

Arles is a small town on the edge of the Rhône delta with impressive Roman remains - and a centre for bull-fighting (Toros from the Camarge). It can claim to be the gateway to the Camargue. Its strong connections with Van Gogh in particular have led to the siting of the Van Gogh Foundation in the town, and there are several Van Gogh themed walking routes where you can see the original inspiration for some of his most famous works e.g Place du Forum for the “Evening Café”, the Rhone River quay for the “Starry Night”, the Place Lamartine for the “Yellow House”, itself.
You can download a brochure online which describes the Van Gogh walk in Arles at www.tourisme.ville-arles.fr/us/