On April 28, the National Gallery of Victoria opened one of the year’s most anticipated collections, ‘Van Gogh and the Seasons’, for the 2017 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition.

The exhibition explores the work of one of the most renowned and celebrated artists in the world, whose name is known among even those who aren’t particularly passionate about the history of art.

“Along with a few others such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh has remarkable appeal because, aside from his unmistakeable paintings, the public has always been particularly fascinated by his personal story and extraordinary life,” Dr Vincent Alessi explained.

A Senior Lecturer in Visual Arts at La Trobe University, Dr Alessi completed his PhD on Van Gogh’s collection of black-and-white popular illustrations and is currently undertaking research on the influence of Charles Dickens on Van Gogh’s work.

An expert on the iconic artist, Dr Alessi admits to becoming emotional in the presence of some of the pieces on display, which were lent to the NGV by leading international museums including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Dr Alessi’s passion for one of the greatest masters of modern art dates back to when he was 16 years old and his older brother passed him a collection of letters which Van Gogh had written to his younger brother Theo.

The letters, which offer an insight into Van Gogh’s life, reflections and thoughts in his own words, will be showcased on Sunday June 25, in a reading by NGV curator Ted Gott.

Before reading the correspondence, Dr Alessi had little knowledge of the famous painter, but one letter had such a great impact on him that he went on to devote his time to discovering the lesser-known aspects of Van Gogh’s artistic practice.

Through a series of talks at the NGV, Dr Alessi has shared his insights on Van Gogh’s work, which was largely influenced by more than 2000 prints which the artist collected and reproduced to refine his techniques across the ten years he devoted to painting.

It was a relatively short career, which began in a small Belgian village and tragically ended in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, but an extremely prolific one given that he produced more than 900 canvases and over 1000 works on paper.

Considered the “quintessential misunderstood genius”, Van Gogh’s enduring fame and success ensued after his death, rather than during his lifetime.

Before turning to art, the influential painter tried to pursue a career as a preacher, but failed.

“Van Gogh’s break with the church was not the end of his relationship with spirituality,” Dr Alessi revealed.

“In fact, he often depicted subjects which were easily connected to Christian symbolism: the sower as the figure of new life, or the sun as a symbol of God.”

The central theme of the exhibition, “the seasons”, seeks to highlight how the passage of time and the rhythm of nature influenced Van Gogh, both on a symbolic and practical level.

The artist dedicated his time to en plein air painting in spring and summer, while his work shifted to still life and self-portraits in the bitter winter months.

Whether you’re one of the artist’s most avid fans or you couldn’t even name one of his masterpieces, one thing’s for sure: a trip to the NGV will leave the words “Van Gogh” on your lips for months to come.