Henry Black

Dr. Black was an art expert who worked at the Musée d'Orsay where a Vincent van Gogh exhibition was held. When the Doctor noticed a strange figure in one of the paintings, he asked Dr. Black on the date the work was painted. He fooled Dr. Black into thinking that Amy Pond and himself were from the Ministry of Art, and all related 'artyness' by using his psychic paper. Dr. Black then informed him that the aforementioned painting was painted between the 1st and 3rd of June in the year 1890. This was less than one year before van Gogh would commit suicide. From that information, the Doctor deduced when to visit van Gogh and save him. Before leaving, Dr. Black and the Doctor both complimented each other's bow ties. The Doctor and Amy returned to the museum, with van Gogh in tow, a few days later, from Black's perspective. At the Doctor's request, Dr. Black shared his opinion of the painter. He commended him for his command of colour and managing to "transform the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty". He further commented that van Gogh was the first, and probably the last, artist to use "passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world." Hearing Dr. Black stating his belief in van Gogh, being the greatest artist and one of the greatest men in history, van Gogh was reduced to tears. Van Gogh hugged and kissed Dr. Black, to his unknowing bemusement, thanking him for his kind words, before leaving. For a moment, Dr. Black seemed to realise whom he had just met, but then seemed to dismiss the idea. (DW: Vincent and the Doctor)