A Louis Vuitton foundation exhibition, with ten Van Gogh paintings, reveals the extraordinary vision of an early collector

The Fondation Louis Vuitton exhibition in Paris showcases ten Van Gogh paintings purchased by pioneering collector Gustave Fayet between 1901 and 1909. Bernard Arnault, head of luxury group LVMH, refers to Fayet as "one of the best kept secrets in the history of Modern art". Fayet was not only a savvy buyer of Modern art but also a multi-talented professional who dabbled in winemaking, painting, ceramics, illustration, museum curation, and design.

His own works are prominently displayed on the top floor of the exhibition. Public Garden in Arles, painted in 1888, depicts the verdant square just outside the Yellow House where Van Gogh rented and shared for ten weeks with his colleague Gauguin. This garden scene was painted just two weeks before Gauguin's arrival and hung in Fayet's spare bedroom in 1901.

Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, completed in January 1889, was painted only two weeks after Van Gogh had mutilated his ear following a quarrel with Gauguin. This work was originally owned by Emile Schuffenecker, who wrote to Fayet shortly after the sale, expressing relief that it would find a loving home with someone who appreciated it.

Harvest in Provence, painted in June 1888, showcases golden wheat being gathered under a powerful sky, while Flowering Shrubs: The Hospital Garden at Saint-Rémy, created in May-June 1889, is an almost abstract work painted at the asylum. The Cypress and the Flowering Tree, a slightly smaller version of a magnificent Provençal landscape painted in June 1889, was gifted by Fayet to his mother Anna and sister Wil.

White Fisherman's Huts at Saintes-Maries, painted in June 1888 during Van Gogh's only visit to the coastal village, is particularly striking due to its intense coloration and depiction of the white huts under the blue sky among the greenery.