Water Damage and Warping
My dear Theo, Today I sent — carriage paid — crate V4 with the still lifes. To my regret, the two little sketches of Amsterdam are quite badly damaged. They got wet on the journey; then the little panels warped when they dried, and dust got into them.
Vincent


There have been a few occasions where Vincent’s paintings were subject to damage, and since not all works are accounted for, we wonder if perhaps they were too badly damaged to consider saving? – For example, during mid-March 1884 Vincent mentioned to his friend Anthon van Rappard that quote:
“I’ve painted quite a lot these last few days, a seated girl winding shuttles for the weavers”.
(Not the same as Woman Winding Yarn)
Today, we have no knowledge of this painting; and perhaps too, another study from this period of the Parsonage Garden.
Farmhouse with Barn and Well had at some stage suffered water damage and as a result has warped the canvas, this in turn has caused paint flaking; given its dire condition one has to wonder why it still exists… and we are convinced, that we know the answer!