Studying a Vincent van Gogh biography provides some insight into the struggles of an incredible artist. Vincent van Gogh was one of the most famous and beloved artists of the 19th century. Van Gogh was a Dutch painter, second in fame only to Rembrandt. Most of his fame never came while van Gogh was living, however, but was the result of a Parisian showing of 71 van Gogh pieces-11 years after his death.
Vincent van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Holland in 1853. His father was a pastor; a vocation van Gogh considered himself. In fact, van Gogh didn't settle into art as a profession until he was nearly 30 years old, but then became an incredibly prolific painter, creating over 900 paintings and over 1,100 drawings. This productivity took place in less than a decade-between November 1881 and his death in July 1890.
Van Gogh's first entry into the world of art came at age 16, working for art dealers Goupil et Cie at the Hague gallery. He was transferred to London, then to Paris, eventually giving up on a career as an art dealer. Van Gogh spent several years working in ministry, evangelizing the poor, giving up on the education his parents were providing him in order to minister to miners and their families in Borinage. This influence of the working class is clearly seen in much of Van Gogh's later work. Eventually, van Gogh left the world of ministry to begin his true life's work as an artist, although he had no formal education or training in art. Van Gogh was unsure of his own abilities, but through the encouragement and support of his beloved brother, Theo, went on to become one of the most famous artists of all time.
Vincent van Gogh struggled with mental illness throughout his later life, which was evidenced by his inability to foster meaningful, long-term relationships with anyone other than his brother, Theo, with whom he eventually went to live in Paris. While there, van Gogh trained professionally in art techniques and connected with several great artists, including Monet, Gauguin and Bernard.
Vincent van Gogh actually experienced very little fame during his lifetime, with his work coming to full appreciation only after his death, by suicide, in 1890. His beloved brother Theo died only six months later, leaving Theo's widow to take on the task of publishing van Gogh's work and sharing it with the world.
 | Facts about Vincent van Gogh fascinate art fans now, but perhaps one of the most important things to know about this talent is that the public didn't find him particularly interesting during his actual lifetime. |
 | In the world of art, Vincent van Gogh masterpieces are some of the most famous works of all. Nearly everyone today has seen a reproduction of his famous paintings of sunflowers and starry nights-but in van Gogh's day, the artist didn't have an audience at all. |
Find articles about Vincent van Gogh, including facts about Vincent van Gogh, a Vincent van Gogh biography and some of Vincent van Gogh masterpieces. |
