Mayor loses bid to snatch scene of Van Gogh painting from back garden
A village feud over who owns extant tree roots behind Vincent van Gogh last painting has been settled after a local mayor lost a court bid to take the land from a couple’s garden.
Just hours before his death in July 1890, Van Gogh painted a scene of tangled tree roots in vivid colours – putting his internal struggle on full display.
In 2020, the tree roots he painted were identified in the back garden of 48 Rue Daubigny, in the small riverside village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where the artist spent his final days.
Since its discovery, the site has been subject of a bitter row between the owners of the land, Jean-François and Hélène Serlinger, and Auvers’ mayor, Isabelle Mézières.
The local authorities tried to take the site under public ownership in 2020, claiming it was part of the public highway.
However, in 2023 a local court ruled against the mayor, and now the matter appears to be settled for once and for all after the Versailles appeal court backed up the previous ruling.
“We are very happy that this is now over,” Ms Serlinger, 68, told The Independent. “The mayor tried to grab the bottom part of the sire by saying it was part of the road, which is terrible.
“But the appeal is very clear, which is great, and now we can use our maximum energy to work on the site and welcome more people from around the world.”
The couple’s love for Van Gogh inspired them to move to the quaint village in 1996.
They acquired the extra land at the bottom of their garden in 2013, but had no idea the roots that lay there were of such significance at the time.
Since the Van Gogh Institute identified the site as the place the Dutch master painted his final masterpiece in 2020, the couple have welcomed visitors from around the globe – including Van Gogh’s family.
Enthusiasts can take a 30-minute tour of their garden for €8 when they open for the season on April 12.
Since the appeal judgement was handed down, Ms Mézières has taken to social media to criticise the couple.
“The roots belong to the people of Auvers!” she wrote, adding that she would be continuing legal action.
“We are taking legal action. There is no question of giving in to the public interest of the people of Auvers over private interests. The question of ownership is not settled.
“It was the city that had the condition of the roots assessed by an expert and called on the Ministry of Culture to preserve the heritage of the people of Auvers. These roots are a common good, not a commercial object!”
Tree Roots is the last work painted by Van Gogh before he shot himself in a nearby wheat field, probably just hours later.
At first sight the painting seems to display a jumble of bright colours in abstract forms, which are in fact a slope with tree trunks and roots.
The work was not entirely completed and Andries Bonger, the brother-in-law of Vincent’s brother Theo, described it in a letter: “The morning before his death, he had painted a sous-bois [forest scene], full of sun and life.”
Celebration destination: Enjoy life’s biggest moments in the Caribbean
With its turquoise-coloured waters, reliably blue skies, and unparalleled natural beauty, the Caribbean is one of the most desirable destinations for a special getaway. From Antigua to Saint Vincent, St Lucia and Barbados, each island offers something a little different – whether you’re looking for a romantic honeymoon retreat, the perfect place to celebrate a milestone birthday, or a fun spot to enjoy a week (or two) of active pursuits with family and friends.
Sandals’ all-inclusive, adult-only resorts are the perfect way to enjoy the islands in luxurious surroundings. Dotted across the Caribbean, each resort has its own unique identity while staying true to the five-star Sandals ethos. But which one do you choose for your own personal celebration?
Here we look at a range of celebrations worthy of an unforgettable holiday and the perfect Sandals resorts to enjoy them in.
If you like your holidays to be as adventurous as they are relaxing, you’re sure to love the many activities offered at Sandals Grande Antigua and Sandals Saint Vincent. Explore the ocean bed with Sandals’s very own comprehensive PADI® Certified scuba diving programmes, and see beautiful reefs and shipwrecks up close alongside the professional supervision of PADI® certified staff and Newton dive boats. There’s also a wealth of water sports available including kayaking and paddleboarding or, if dry land is more your thing, why not spend your days playing beach volleyball, croquet, and tennis? All activities are included at either resort making your trip hassle free and flexible.
If you’re looking for somewhere to make a real occasion of a celebration or simply hide away on a romantic getaway, the Royal Barbados resort is one of Sandals’s most elegant options. The resort offers an extra level of extravagance that makes every day an unforgettable experience – from swim-up suites, Rolls Royce transfers from the airport when you stay in select suites, to a rooftop pool and restaurant, and catamaran cruises. There’s even a bowling alley if you fancy some good old-fashioned fun, or an alternative option for a date night.
On the beautiful island of Curaçao, lies the Sandals Royal Curaçao resort nestled within the heart of Leeward Antilles. The resort has plenty of opportunity for more intimate stays in its seaside butler bungalows complete with private pools and soaking tubs, while private cabanas and local tours leave you plenty of options for making an anniversary or birthday feel extra special. The parties around the pool or on the beach also make this a fun destination for celebrating a loved one.
Jamaica plays host to a number of Sandals resorts that make the perfect destination for honeymoons and group trips alike. The Sandals Royal Caribbean, for instance, offers over-the-water private villas complete with glass floors, hammocks and butler service, on the resort’s own private island. Ocean-view and swim-up rooms also offer a first-class experience for groups and friends spending time together. Alternatively, it’s hard to imagine a more romantic stay than at Sandals South Coast, where you can stay in spectacular, luxurious overwater villas arranged in the shape of a heart, offering an unmatched connection to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and rich marine life below.
Meanwhile, the Sandals Ochi resort in Jamaica offers the best of both worlds for honeymooners and party goers (or those wanting to enjoy both) with private butler villas, white sand beach, and 11 unique bars. Its vibrant atmosphere is ideal for those wanting to relax and party during their stay.
While every Sandals resort offers a luxurious experience, if you’re really looking to splurge and treat yourself, the re-imagined Sandals Royal Bahamian should be on your wishlist. Located in Nassau in the Bahamas, it has everything you could dream of from a holiday destination. Swim-up suites with butler service will help you leave the stresses and strains of everyday life behind, while pristine-white beaches, an award-winning Red Lane spa and 10 specialty restaurants will make your stay as enjoyable as it is relaxing. A short trip by boat will also take you to the Sandals private island with its own bar, restaurant and pool. Luxury adventure tours around the island will also make exploring the rest of the island easy and convenient.
St Lucia is one of the most beautiful and picturesque islands of the Caribbean, and our top destination for visiting with parents. Resorts such as the Grande St Lucian sit on their own peninsula with 360 degrees of volcanic mountains and crystal-clear ocean views to enjoy. As such, it’s the perfect place for making mum or dad feel truly appreciated. In addition to five grande pools, there’s also a Cap Estate Golf & Country Club for serious parental bonding time, not to mention a range of outdoor activities including reading road trips where guests meet children from the island, Catamaran sunset cruises, and carnival experiences.
Discover Sandals’s full range of Caribbean resorts here
What does Marine Le Pen’s conviction mean for France and Europe?
Marine Le Pen, de facto leader of French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN), is banned from contesting any public election for five years after being found guilty of embezzlement.
She says she will appeal but this will take time and possibly puts her planned bid for the French presidency in 2027 out of reach.
Her unexpected conviction has been met with a fierce backlash from allies across the world, notably including President Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni, prime minister of Italy. Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary declared on social media “Je Suis Marine!”.
France, already unstable after the snap parliamentary elections last summer, now has the prospect of public protests in support of Le Pen.
What did Marine Le Pen do wrong?
A glib answer would be that she got caught. She was arraigned on charges of embezzling funds from the European parliament, of which she was a long-term member, for more than a decade. She did not personally benefit from any such activity, but it was found that she had diverted monies intended to be used for her work as an MEP into her cash-strapped political party. This was against the rules and a criminal act, but experts on the ways of the European parliament attest it is a not uncommon practice across the political spectrum.
Her supporters say she is the victim of a conspiracy by the French state to prevent her bid for power in 2027. Her critics argue that, whatever other people were up to, she is not above the law.
Certainly not immediately. The injunction against her standing for election doesn’t affect her status as a member of the French parliament, and the four-year nominal jail sentence would only begin after she has exhausted all the possible legal avenues to lift the ban or reverse the verdict.
Even if she is unsuccessful, she wouldn’t be incarcerated: she would serve two years under surveillance wearing an ankle bracelet, and then a two-year suspended sentence provided she stays out of trouble. She is also liable now for a €100,000 fine.
Hard to say, but it could take so long, and be such a distraction, that it effectively takes her out of the running for the Elysee Palace.
Yes. It comes after Romanian courts cancelled a dubious election marred by Russian interference and as the former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, faces trial for conspiring to overthrow his freely-elected successor.
Only Trump has bucked the trend, making a remarkable comeback after his 6 January 2021 insurrection and now the beneficiary of a Supreme Court decision granting him wide immunity from prosecution in the pursuit of his official duties.
It is huge. Le Pen was the favourite to win the 2027 contest, and already holds an effective veto in the French parliament, and, thus, on President Emmanuel Macron’s domestic agenda. She has made him a lame duck at home, and she had high hopes of succeeding him.
As the European Union’s second largest economy after Germany, now exercising its traditional role as political driving force in Brussels, France matters.
Le Pen probably would not now try to lead France out of the EU – that would likely mean a referendum – but she and her numerous far-right allies across the continent and in the European parliament, could steer it in a radically different direction. The populist/nationalist/far-right hold power or exercise influence in most EU member states, notably Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland – with the AfD in Germany now the official opposition. It would not take much to turn the EU into some sort of Trumpian power.
With Le Pen out of the running for the French presidency, it is much less likely Europe will fall into the hands of extremists.
Yes, and she could easily run the government from the back seat if another RN politician won. The problem for the RN is that her long political career and her profile mean that she’s much the best – possibly the only – credible candidate they offer. The nominal leader of the RN, Jordan Bardella, is a 29-year old protégé of Le Pen and close to the family; but he lacks experience and few have much confidence in him as a candidate for the next president of the republic.
On the other hand the right-wing backlash from the Le Pen judgment might actually galvanise her movement and propel it to success. Certainly the RN will remain a significant parliamentary bloc, which spells a prolonged period of “immobilisme” if the presidency is held by some more centrist figure – remembering that Macron cannot again.
Provided Le Pen remains barred, in a stronger position. Le Pen and her various political vehicles have long been sympathetic to Vladimir Putin and would be unwilling to commit French forces in the east. As for Brexit, Le Pen would be unwilling to grant any special treatment to the UK, in trade or in defence.
As austerity bites, Starmer must give the public something to hope for
There can hardly be a household or business in Britain that will not be faced with higher bills imminently.
The list of added costs is a long and demoralising one, especially because it mostly comprises items that are simply unavoidable: council tax; energy tariffs; water charges; broadband and phone subscriptions; the television licence; the road fund licence; stamp duty up – and, most important of all – the 2 per cent hike in employers’ national insurance contributions and the continuing freeze on personal income tax thresholds.
Inflation, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), will probably peak at 4.1 per cent in July – and remain above the official target of 2 per cent until 2026.
Of course, there are two sides to every set of accounts. For some families, there will be compensatory increases in income. Thanks to the “triple lock”, the state pension is up by 4.1 per cent. Around 170,000 younger people will see a rise in the minimum wage, bringing it to 60 per cent of median wage – and, because of persistent labour shortages, a two-earner household will see its income from employment up by 5.8 per cent, safely ahead of general price rises. It is the equivalent of about £3,500, even after the freeze in tax thresholds is taken into account.
Overall, on paper, the balance doesn’t look too bad. Sir Keir Starmer has been making the most of the prospective increase in real incomes for many families. However, those increases in wages also represent an increase in costs to business, as do the “jobs tax” employer NICs – and, to a lesser extent, the extra responsibilities entailed in the Employment Rights Bill, which will also become law later this year. The uncomfortable fact is that improvements in productivity are not keeping up with wages and are thus unsustainable in the longer term. Unemployment is already forecast by the OBR to edge up, even with almost a million 18- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
For most people and businesses, life still feels like a struggle and there is no sense of any light at the end of the fiscal tunnel. Living standards have stagnated for many years and the chancellor’s efforts to repair the public finances have met with only mixed success. The promise of growth has not yet materialised. Brexit – and the huge public debt run up during the Covid pandemic – continue to drag the economy down. Now, the prospect of a global trade war will further dampen hopes of anything like a strong recovery – as an unusually open economy, the UK has more to lose than most from disruption in world trade and investment flows.
The prime minister and his chancellor, in particular, need to give the public a sense of better times to come and that the hardships of recent years – unprecedented since the end of the Second World War – are being shouldered as part of some wider cause.
There are things to be optimistic about and the government could – and should – highlight them, as well as continuing to make the case for placing the public finances in a secure foundation in a troubled world (and one that demands better defences). The planning reforms and investment in infrastructure will, in due course, provide a substantial improvement in economic performance, lifting the trend rate of growth by as much as 0.5 per cent by the early 2030s.
On a similar timescale, artificial intelligence and other new technologies will also have a transformational effect, just as the arrival of the internet did in the earlier part of this century. Despite some very valid warnings about skills shortages, more than a million new homes will probably be finished by the time of the next election: a record rate.
The NHS seems to be slowly healing. Relations with Europe, if only because of Donald Trump’s betrayal of the West, have improved immeasurably, and may yet lead to a closer economic partnership, driven by necessity as well as the palpable failures of Brexit.
The D:Ream hit “Things Can Only Get Better” was Labour’s brightly optimistic theme tune for its successful 1997 election campaign. It is fair to say that things haven’t quite lived up to those heady expectations, but the jib of a national leader is to keep the faith and confidence of a people in difficult moments with the promise – a credible promise – of better, happier, easier times ahead.
While the chancellor – not the most effective of political communicators – gets on with the hard slog of fixing the public finances, a little prime ministerial optimism would not go amiss.