-FASINATING ART-IT JUST IS-

JEAN FRANCOIS MILLET

"THE GLEANERS"



MILLET'S "THE GLEANERS',A RARE PAINTING OF RURAL LIFE IN THE VERY EARLY PART OF THE 19TH CENTURY HAS THE GREAT HONOUR OF BEING THE

CENTRAL INSPIRATION TO TWO OF THE WORLDS MOST FAMOUS AND CONTROVER-

SIAL PAINTERS-VINCENT VAN GOGH AND SALVADORE DALI.THOU BOTH PAINTER'S

HAVE TOTALLY UNIQUE STYLES THAT SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE IF ANYTHING IN COMMON-THERE IS A THREAD THAT CONNECTS THEM.AS ARTISTS THEY BOTH

POSSESSED A SINGLE MINDEDNESS TO PUSH THIER ART TO THE LIMITS OF THIER

OWN CAPABILITY-NOT TO BE CONSTRICTED BY OTHER ARTISTS,THE PUBLIC OR

THE SALON(S}.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT "THE GLEANERS" THAT INSPIRED BOTH PAINTERS TO

IDOLIZE IT ?BOTH ALLWAYS HAD A COPY OF IT WITH THEM AND REFFERED TO IT

OFTEN."THE GLEANERS" IS A VERY UNUSUAL PAINTING FOR IT'S TIME.PAINTERS

SIMPLY DID NOT PAINT PICTURE'S OF PEASANTS AND COMMONERS BEFORE

"THE IMPRESSIONISTS".I'VE HAD A COPY MYSELF SINCE I WAS 8-MY GRAND-

FATHER OWNED A CONACO GAS STATION AND THEY GAVE AWAY PRINTS{WITH

A FULL TANK OF GAS}.I STILL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME AS I WRITE THIS.OF ALL

THE ART IN MY COLLECTION0I HAVE OWNED THIS PRINT LONGER THAN ANY

OTHER-IN FACT I BELIEVE IT IS THE OLDEST POSSESSION I STILL HAVE.I ALLWAYS
FOUND THE PAINTING FASINATING AND AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL-BUT I COULD NOT
TELL YOU WHY-IT JUST IS.
I