Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter. He was not commercially successful but posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in the art world. He tragically committed suicide at 37 after suffering from years of mental illness.
Below is a timeline of his colourful life. He created over 2000 artworks, most of which date from the last two years of his life.
1853
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in Zundert, the eldest son of the Protestant clergyman Theodorus van Gogh (1822 - 1885) and Anna Cornelia Carbentus (1819-1907).
1857
Birth of his brother Theo on 1 May.
1869-1876
Van Gogh joined the international art dealer Goupil & Co. in The Hague (photo : Goupil & Co.’s Gallery in Paris © commons.wikimedia.org). His aversion to the art trade grew steadily. He immersed himself in the Bible and lived in seclusion. He returned to his parents' home in Etten in 1876.
1876-1880
Vincent worked as a teacher at a boarding school in Ramsgate from mid-April 1876 until July, when he moved to a post in Isleworth on the outskirts of London, where he was also allowed to preach occasionally. moved to Amsterdam to prepare himself for theological studies.
1878
Worked as an evangelist briefly in Belgium.
1880
Van Gogh decided to become an artist.
(photo : Vincent’s home in Cuesmes, Belgium)
1881
Returned to live with his parents in Etten. A bitter altercation around Christmas led to estrangement from his parents. Van Gogh departed for The Hague.
1882-1885
In Antwerp he hoped that painting portraits and townscapes could make him financially independent, but the art trade there was severely depressed and success continued to elude him.
1886-1888
Van Gogh left unexpectedly for Paris around the beginning of March and moved in with Theo.
1882-1885
In Antwerp he hoped that painting portraits and townscapes could make him financially independent, but the art trade there was severely depressed and success continued to elude him.
1888-1890
The hectic life he had been leading in Paris began to take its toll: Vincent was weakened both mentally and physically and produced very little work. In search of peace and a warm climate he decided to leave for Arles in February.The weather in Provence was not much better than in Paris: temperatures were below freezing and there was snow on the ground. In
Two night scenes were also completed in this period, Café Terrace at Night and The Starry Night.
Their conflicting temperaments led to increasing friction between Van Gogh and Gauguin in the course of December. After a dramatic quarrelling with Gauguin, Vincent mutilated his ear and was admitted to hospital in Arles.
Vincent decided at the end of April to have himself admitted as a voluntary patient to the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in nearby Saint-Remy.
Van Gogh was allowed to start work inside the asylum; an extra room was equipped as a studio. Again he painted a nocturnal scene, 'The Starry Night'.
1890
Died from injuries sustained from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
Theo was to die six months later.
