Happy birthday, Vincent van Gogh (30 March 1853 – July 29 1890)!
Vincent van Gogh, was born in the Netherlands. At age 15, he left school to work for his uncle’s art dealership. After being fired, he moved to a mining village in the south of Belgium where he ministered to the sick. Here he drew the miners and their families, who named him «Christ of the Coal Mines.» Upon moving to Paris, van Gogh encountered impressionist art, and he was inspired by the colour and light. In 1888, he moved into the «little yellow house» where he wasted away; eating paint and sipping on turpentine. Van Gogh’s brother, Theo, persuaded Paul Gauguin to watch over Van Gogh. The pair argued constantly and van Gogh threatening Gauguin with a razor blade. Later the same night, van Gogh presented his ear to a prostitute ‘for safe keeping’. Depression eventually sent him to an asylum. In 1890, aged 37, van Gogh shot himself in the chest. Two days later he shot himself again and died in his brother’s arms. Theo’s wife, Johanna collected as many of van Gogh’s paintings as she could and in 1901, 71 of them were exhibited in Paris. From there his fame grew. Some of his paintings are now among the most expensive in the world; «Irises» sold for a record $53.9 million, and his «Portrait of Dr. Gachet» sold for $82.5 million.