Vincent Vangogh (1853 - 90)


gogh_self_colour.jpg (206925 bytes)   Vincent Vangogh was born on March 20th, 1853 in Holland. After attending boarding school he worked as a salesman for the Paris and London based firm Goupils - selling paintings. He left when he became disillusioned with the industry and went to Brussels where he trained to become a missionary. Vangogh had always been a lonely, sensitive and temperamental man but felt suited to the job of caring for others. He moved to Wasme (a mining village) which is where he first began to paint - producing watercolour studies of the miners at work.

   1882 saw the beginning of his mental deterioration after the tragic end to a love affair (the lady killed herself). He started to become obssessed with the sun and began to choose painting over his religious duties. His paintings were bright and vibrant until his father died in 1885 and his work became dark and moody.   

   In time Vangogh moved to Arles where his work once again concentrated on sun drenched landscapes. Vangogh's paintings followed no one direction or programme. He was part of no movement but was influenced by many. He was very interested in Cezanne, Renoir and particularly Seurat. Whilst still in Arles, in a moment of mental derangement, Vangogh cut off his ear. He was moved to a hospital and then on to the Saint-Remy Asylum. Here he painted many pictures and after making a recovery left and moved to the house of Dr. Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise. His last painting was a portrait of this man. Soon afterwards he borrowed a revolver, leant against a tree and shot himself in the chest. Vincent Vangogh died on July 7th, 1890. Tragically, his dearly loved brother Theo followed him to the grave six months later.

They are buried together in a little churchyard in Auvers-sur-Oise (Paris).