Letter 051 Paris, January 1876
Dear Theo,
In the first box going to The Hague you will find a few parcels; will you be so kind as to send them on?
First, there is one for yourself, which contains Felix Holt. When you have read it, please send it to Etten; and when they have finished it, please have them return it here, for it does not belong to me. It is a book that impressed me very much, and I am sure it will be the same with you. There is also a parcel for Mr.
Tersteeg and one for his wife, and also one for Mauve and his wife. I wrote Mauve that someday he must ask you for that book on Michel; please show it to him when you have a chance. There is also a parcel for Father. Try to send it to Etten in time for his birthday; perhaps you might add Felix Holt, and you can read it after it has been to Etten 鈥?maybe that will be the best. In the little roll addressed to you are three etchings after Jules Dupr茅 鈥?one for Uncle Jan van Gogh with my kindest regards and one for Father. There is also a lithograph after Bodmer and an etching by Jacque for Father. Another lithograph, after Cabat, is for you.
Cabat resembles Ruysdael. There are two beautiful pictures of his at the Luxembourg: one, a pond with trees around it in autumn at sunset; the other, a road along a waterside and a few large oak trees on a grey autumn evening. The etching after Jules Dupr茅 is beautiful. It is from an album of six which includes Dupr茅鈥檚 portrait. He has such a simple and noble face, it reminds me somehow of Mauve; but he is older,
and perhaps in reality they do not look at all alike.
You are right to take English lessons; you will not be sorry. I should like to send you a Longfellow and Andersen鈥檚 Fairy Tales; I shall try to get them. If I send them, read especially Longfellow鈥檚 Evangeline,
Miles Standish, King Robert of Sicily, etc.
And now it is again time to say good-by, with a firm handshake. Regards to Roos, and to anybody who asks about me, and believe me always Your loving brother, Vincent
Also give my compliments to friend Borchers.