Biographical Information

• 1853  Born 30th March at Groot Zundert, Netherlands. Van Gogh is today one of the most popular of the Post-Impressionist painters, although he was not widely appreciated during his lifetime. He is now famed for the great vitality of his works which are characterized by expressive and emotive use of brilliant colour and energetic application of impasto paint. The traumas of his life, documented in his many letters to his brother, have tended to dominate and distort modern perceptions of his art.
• 1857 May 1st Vincent's brother Theodorus (Theo) is born. The two brothers are very close all their lives.
• 1864 Vincent goes to boarding school in Zevengergen.
• 1869 Vincent is apprenticed to Paris art dealer, Vincent reads much about art and visits the Hague museums. Theo also joins the art firm.
• 1872 first letter to brother Theo, he continues to write for 18 years, a total of 650 letters.
• 1873 Vincent is transferred to London branch
• 1876 Leaves the gallery, goes to Margate and teachers in a school. Vincent at this stage decides to become a preacher.
• 1877 Returns to the Netherlands and becomes a book-keeper.
• 1879 The evangelist college in Brussels assigns Vincent a preachers job in Wasmes.
• 1880  Moves to Brussels and decides to become an artist (I know the feeling)
• In April moves to Etten at his dad's parsonage, and studies drawing. Fell in love with cousin Kee Vos-Striker, she rejects him.
• 1881 Moves to The Hague, where he studies watercolor painting with Anton Mauve. The prostitute, Sien Hoornic and her child move in with Vincent.
• 1883 December moves to his dad's parsonage in Nuenen, stays their for two years.
• 1885 paints The Potato Eaters, (we artist have to start somewhere!) Vincent's father dies of a stroke on 26 March. Later that year goes to Academy of Fine Art, Antwerp only lasts 3 months.
• 1886 moves in with brother Theo in Paris (I moved in with mine when I was 17 year's old). During this time discovers Impressionism.
• 1888 moves to Arles, into the Yellow House, South of France. Paint
• s: Sunflowers, Bedroom at Arles, Vincent's Chair. joined by painter Paul Gauguin from October to December (Bad move, conflict of personalities and the very reason for cutting off part of his ear, to show Paul how much he care's for his company.) Paints nearly 200 picture while at Arles.
• 1889 commits himself to St Remy mental asylum. Had no choose really, the locals thought he was a mad red head! Paint Cyprus Trees- time and time again because it's the only view from the room he was locked away. His brother marries Jo Bonger on April 18th.
• 1890 moves to Auvers, a village north of Paris. Sold his only painting during his lifetime, for 400 francs. Shoots himself , takes 2 days to die, alone in his little bedroom. Note: he only paints for 10 years! but was so prolific, (I have a two volume book, 871 titles of his oil paintings, that does not include the watercolor, drawings and etchings).

  10 of Vincent Letters and sketches  

"Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners. And my mind is driven towards these things with an irresistible momentum."  Vincent van Gogh,21 July 1882.

Vincent's letters portray and enhance understanding of his paintings. His prolific letter writing to his brother and other artists convey his passions, with great incite. While he was in Provence, southern France, he was painting at his best. Here I've chosen some of his more compelling letters. I change them when I can.

Theo's wife fortunately keep the letters after her husbands death as a comfort and consolation. Theo died just six months after Vincent, probably of a broken heart. The last thing Vincent done was to write to his brother, laying on his bed bleeding to death, with his letter in his hand.

11. Stranger on the Earth: A Psychological Biography of Vincent Van Gogh from Da Capo Press Price: $18.00 Customer Review: Pure, unintentional, Freudian-style hilarity! This book is what happens when modern psychology ignores modern neuropathy. I was laughing until tears streamed down my face when I read the passage that states that Vincent's early work, (i.e. the Potato Eaters) was his superego rebelling against his... more info Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Click here for more information 12. Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings from Taschen Price: $39.99 Customer Review: This is a very nice publication to have on your shelf. Van Gogh is an icon of Western culture and it is almost certain that you can call more than a few of his images to mind quite easily. What this provides is a greater context for those several images by providing what it calls "the complete... more info Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 Click here for more information 13. Vincent: A Complete Portrait from Running Press Book Publishers Click here for more information 14. Masters of Art: Van Gogh (Masters of Art) from Harry N Abrams Price: $24.95 Customer Review: This unusual book was quite a find. It was made using a binding process I've never seen before. The pages actually unfold in a variety of ways to present images of Van Gogh's best loved paintings in a highly effective manner. Some pages fold out horizontally and present four works side-by-side,... more info Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 Click here for more information 15. Van Gogh's House : A Pop-Up Experience from Universe Customer Review: This book is quite charming. As reported in a previous review, the little package one receives is approximately 4" by 5". A pocket on one side contains six punch-out characters, a few punch-out items (incl. vases of flowers, pictures and a pitcher) to be placed in the rooms, and a 32-page booklet... more info Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 Click here for more information 16. Van Gogh - Starry Night (Miniature Art Books Gallery) from Barron''s Educational Series Price: $8.95 Click here for more information 17. Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh from Bulfinch Price: $47.25 Customer Review: Other Amazon reviewers have related to the three volume complete letters, with introduction and memoir. I will relate only to the letters of Van Gogh themselves , and that portion of them which I have read. They are surely one of the great documents for anyone interested in the connection between... more info Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 Click here for more information 18. Van Gogh: The Passionate Eye (Discoveries Series) from Harry N Abrams Price: $9.97 Customer Review: This is a spectacular acquisition depicting the works of Van Gogh-born in Groot Zundert, Netherlands on March 30, 1853. He came from humble beginnings. His father was a neighborhood preacher. On January 11, 1862 at age 9, he drew a classic rendition of a bridge. It was done so... more info Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 Click here for more information 19. Vincent Van Gogh : The Painter and the Portraits from Universe Price: $19.95 Customer Review: Vincent Van Gogh: Painter & Portrait accompanies the international loan exhibition and explores the artist's changing view of how the portrait was produced. From his first experiments with character studies around 1880 to his transition to new media and representations, this includes pieces from... more info Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 Click here for more information 20. Van Gogh: Self Portraits With Accompanying Letters from Vincent to His Brother Theo from Book Sales Customer Review: This Book has been one of my greatest reading experiences it has been subtely combined with the portraits. The letters have been written with alot of passion and admiration and also with a certain amount of trust and comfort in one another. this is book is a must buy for all art lovers it will... more info Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Click here for more information 11 - 20 Portions © Amazon.com, Inc.

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