À propos de l’œuvre
La Ronde des prisonniers, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · February 1890 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
The Prisoners' RoundReproduction of oil painting on canvas
In a narrow courtyard with dizzying walls, prisoners circle under the supervision of guards. Van Gogh transposes an engraving by Gustave Doré into color and transforms its dark architecture into a visual meditation on confinement.
Look at the work
A circular walk under endless walls
The line occupies the bottom of the courtyard and draws an almost closed loop. The vaulted bodies look similar, but a blond man turns his face towards the viewer. On the right, two supervisors remain motionless near the high windows.
The walls rise to the upper edge without revealing the sky. The bricks, arches and slabs are described by a mosaic of blues, greens, ocher and violet. A small rectangle of light at the bottom seems too far away to provide an exit.
The repetition of steps, the framing without sky and the verticality of the walls also enclose the gaze: the composition makes you experience the space even before recounting its action.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The canvas F669/JH1885 adapts the engraving A Prison Yard in Newgate by Gustave Doré, published in 1872 in London: A Pilgrimage.
A circle that leads nowhere
The prisoners advance one behind the other and return to their starting point. The tight loop organizes the entire lower part and imposes a repetitive rhythm.
Walls higher than canvas
The walls are cut by the upper edge, which prevents measuring the height. The absence of sky transforms the courtyard into a closed well.
Color invented from an engraving
Doré worked in black and white. Van Gogh translated the values of engraving into turquoise blues, greens, purples and yellows, without losing the tight structure of the bricks.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The Prisoners' Round is an oil on canvas measuring 80 × 64 cm painted in Saint-Rémy in February 1890. Preserved at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, it is cataloged F669 and JH1885.
Gustave Doré, Newgate
The composition includes an engraving of the Newgate prison exercise yard, drawn by Gustave Doré and published with Blanchard Jerrold's text in London: A Pilgrimage in 1872.
A "translation" into painting
Van Gogh did not mechanically copy his printed models. He talked about translations: he changed scale, invented color and reformulated light with his own touch.
At the Pushkin Museum since 1948
The work belonged in particular to the collector Ivan Morozov. After the nationalization of its collection, it was transferred to the Pushkin Museum during the reorganization of 1948.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The reproduction must keep the precise network of bricks, the greenish blues of the courtyard, the loop of silhouettes and the blond face turned towards the viewer.
- The circular line of prisoners in the foreground
- Blonde man looking out of the round
- The brick walls cut by the upper edge
- The small bright opening at the back of the courtyard
Work sheet
| Title | The Prisoners' Round |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | February 1890 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 80 × 64 cm |
| Inventory | F669 · JH1885 |
| Conservation | Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A vertical, deep and meditative composition
Blue greens and muted ochres are suitable for an office, library or living room with natural materials. The vertical format draws the eye upwards and gives a strong presence to a narrow section of wall.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
Documentary reproduction measures 2,538 × 3,204 px. It was converted into a real WebP of 2,376 × 3,000 px without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
