Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

Alexander Reid (1854–1928)

Image credit: Glasgow Life Museums

How you can use this image

 

This image is available to be shared and re-used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (CC BY-NC-ND).

You can reproduce this image for non-commercial purposes and you are not able to change or modify it in any way.

Wherever you reproduce the image you must attribute the original creators (acknowledge the original artist(s) and the person/organisation that took the photograph of the work) and any other rights holders.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find more images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Download

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Animated by fiery touches of red, orange and green, this portrait has an enigmatic and expressive power. Reid worked in Paris with Van Gogh's art dealer brother Theo and, for a short while, shared the brothers' Montmartre apartment. Until 1928 this was believed to be a self-portrait of Van Gogh. Reid's son saw the painting in a catalogue, contacted the artist's family and told them it was actually a portrait of his father. Why the confusion? An artist friend of Reid and Vincent wrote that the two men were so alike that 'they might have been twins. I have often hesitated, until I got close, as to which of them I was meeting'.
Title

Alexander Reid (1854–1928)

Date

1887

Medium

oil on board

Measurements

H 42 x W 33 cm

Accession number

3315

Acquisition method

purchased with the assistance of the National Fund for Acquisitions, the National Art Collections Fund, an anonymous donor and public subscription, 1974

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Normally on display at

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AG Scotland

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue