Study argues Van Gogh painted The Starry Night on July 22, 1889

A study published in Scientific Reports argues that Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night on July 22, 1889, based on the night sky visible at the time. The date differs from the commonly accepted view that the painting was completed in June 1889.

The researchers identified a likely location from which Van Gogh observed the scene, then used CAD tools and historical astronomical data to compare the stars depicted in the painting with the sky on every night at that location in June and July 1889. June 23, July 22 and July 23 were the strongest matches. The study says July 22 fit especially well because the moon, Venus and the Hyades star cluster aligned closely with the artwork. The authors also cited letters from the period describing conditions at the time.

AI was used for language editing, independent checks of numerical results and help preparing the deposited analysis code, according to the report. The researchers say the findings shift the burden of proof toward those who argue that the sky in the painting came from Van Gogh’s imagination.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam reaffirmed that the painting was made in June 1889, telling The Guardian that the positions of celestial bodies cannot reliably date the work because Van Gogh was not concerned with exact likenesses. Donald Olson, professor emeritus of physics and astronomy at Texas State University, also challenged the study’s assumed narrow field of view, saying it conflicts with the wider view needed to include the painting’s hills and cliffs.