Unseen Van Gogh sketches that rework scorned masterpiece to go on display

Preparatory work for redoing' of The Potato Eaters - savaged in his lifetime - to feature in exhibition

A collection of Vincent van Gogh's preparatory drawings sketched ahead of a planned redoing" of The Potato Eaters, a masterpiece brutally slated by buyers, friends and family at the time of its painting, are being exhibited for what is believed to be first time.

The Dutch artist considered his depiction of a peasant family from the village of Nuenen in Brabant eating a meal of potatoes as one of only four of his works that could be regarded as important, alongside The Bedroom, Sunflowers and Augustine Roulin (La berceuse).