Starry Night over the Rhone (September 1888) is one of Vincent van Gogh's paintings of Arles at night; it was painted at a spot on the banks of river which was only a minute or two's walk from the Yellow House on the Place Lamartine which van Gogh was renting at the time. Van Gogh's fascination with the heavens and stars were the inspiration for some of his most famous paintings, including Cafe Terrace at Night and The Starry Night. This period in Arles was one of the most productive in his short career. His painting of Cafe Terrace at Night preceded Starry Night over the Rhone by less than a month. The Starry Night was painted in June 1889.

The challenge of painting at night intrigued van Gogh. The perspective he chose for Starry Night over the Rhone allowed him to capture the reflections of the gas lighting in Arles across the glimmering blue water of the Rhône River. The sky above is illuminated by the constellation known as Ursa Major or the Great Bear. In the foreground, two lovers enjoy the soft night light as they stroll by the banks of the river.

Depicting color was of great importance to van Gogh. In letters to his brother, Theo van Gogh, he often described objects in his paintings in terms of color. His night paintings, including Starry Night over the Rhone, emphasize the importance he placed in capturing the sparkling colors of the night sky and the artificial lighting that was new to this period.

Vincent van Gogh paintings | 1888 paintings | Arles | Collections of the Musée d'Orsay | Sterrenag oor die Rhône | Nuit étoilée sur le Rhône