Biography: Vincent Van Gogh – Part 4

“When I have a terrible need of-shall I say the word- religion.Then I go out and paint the stars.”Now who has not seen and been awed by Vincent Van Gogh’s

stunning painting,”Starry Night”?

This poor soul who has become the Archetypical “artist persona”

only painted for the last ten years of his life and only sold one painting!

Yet he has altered the history of art forever.

How could this be so?It is so because Van Gogh distilled all of his emotional

torment into his paintings.His terrible inner struggle with madness and his inherent spirituality gave his canvasses a surface tension never seen before.

He was born in Holland in 1853 but didn’t become an artist until 1880.

After he met several impressionist painters he began to change his palette

and paint in a lighter mode.

Having cut off his ear with a razor he began a downward spiral into madness.

His brother Theo was his champion and best friend.He supported Vincent to the end.

However he could not protect Vincent from himself and after a long bout with severe depression,Vincent shot himself in the stomach.

He died two days later saying it was ,”For the good of all”.

His paintings were definitely for the good of all.

He made our world a more special place.

May he rest in peace in the grave next to his brother Theo forever.