Flowering Orchards
When did Vincent wrote The Cherry Tree and how many orchards did he have?
Vincent van Gogh
The series of "Flowering Orchards", sometimes referred to as the "Orchards in Blossom" paintings, were among the first groups of work that Van Gogh completed after his arrival in Arles, Provence in February 1888. The 14 paintings in this group are optimistic, joyous and visually expressive of the burgeoning Springtime. They are delicately sensitive, silent, quiet and unpopulated. About "The Cherry Tree" Vincent wrote to Theo on 21 April 1888 and said he had 10 orchards and: "one big (painting) of a cherry tree, which I've spoiled". The following spring he painted another smaller group of orchards, including "View of Arles, Flowering Orchards". Van Gogh was taken by the landscape and vegetation of the South of France, and often visited the farm gardens near Arles. Because of the vivid light supplied by the Mediterranean climate his palette significantly brightened. From his arrival, he was interested in capturing the effect of the seasons on the surrounding landscape and plant life.