I see today's 1964 'Portrait of a Widow' episode featured John Gavin and Vera Miles. The previous time they appeared together was in the classic 'Psycho'(1960).
Doug McClure was absent yet again. Why was he missing from the majority of mid-late second season and early third season episodes??
In this episode Vera Miles' character mentions Van Gogh not being appreciated in his lifetime. This has to be a serious historical blunder on the part of the writer. The Virginian is set in the 1890's. Van Gogh died 1890 and didn't achieve recognition in the USA until many years later. Here's text from 'Redlands Fortnightly' outlining the dateline of his public acclaim. Van Gogh didn't gain any attention in the USA until 1923!!!
Gradually modern art was accepted as responsible art, and Van Gogh’s paintings received more favorable attention. The Netherlands was the first to accord significance to modern art, and then France and Germany. In England and America Van Gogh was not viewed as an accomplished artist, but rather as a lunatic and his paintings as shocking. The first Van Gogh exhibit in England was in 1910 and the reviewer termed it an insult. It was not until 1923 that his works received favorable comment. In America an exhibit in 1920 did not elicit much enthusiasm, but more and more support grew until 1935 and an exhibit had a triumphant tour throughout the United States and Canada as well.
Of course I should have said the first Van Gogh exhibition in the USA was in 1920 - not 1923. Either way, the writer's research on this episode was severely lacking. As was John Gavin's French accent!! He wouldn't fool anyone.
Hey Paul- looks like you are making this board wake up!
And I'm following you...
WoWeeee! I am impressed with your research on the art. I read your comment and correction to my homeschooled art student, and she was asking me about that last night while we were watching (and taping) the episode. I felt pretty ignorant momentarily, as I was trying to figure out what was wrong with that statement, and finally told her I wasn't sure that Vincent was even dead yet in 1890 something. So, she settled for the maybe this episode is set in 1900? I dunno....that's what I love about kids, sooo gullible at times, they even think they're parents are smarter than they are!
Thanks for sharing that bit with us. I'll be here checking for more info...Tina.