Van Gogh watercolor snapped up by Noordbrabants Museum

The Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch acquired a watercolor by Vincent van Gogh titled "The Rectory Garden in Nuenen ", the museum announced. The museum calls it the "most important purchase ever", though the price paid for the painting was not disclosed, Omroep Brabant reports

The watercolor is Van Gogh's first experiment with walking figures. It shows couples wandering around the garden. According to the museum, the watercolor gives a good overview of Van Gogh's Brabant period.

Van Gogh lived with his parents in the parsonage in Nuenen for over 1.5 years. He painted several works in the garden.

The watercolor was bought by art critic and art teacher Hendrik Bremer in 1903, the museum believes. It remained with his family for many years until it ended up in a private collection in 1969. The museum bought it from that collection.