By Suline van der Merwe 8.1 1853-1890 Vincent van Gogh "I can very well do without God both in my life and in my painting, but I cannot, suffering as I am, do without something which is greater than I am, which is my life, the power to create." 1
Contents Page Page 1............ Introduction Page 2............ Biography Page 3............ Paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Starry Night Page 4............ Starry Night Over the Rhone Page 5............ Cafe Terrace At Night Page 6............ Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase Page 7............ Irises Page 8............ Timeline of Vincent van Gogh s life and the world around him Page 9............ The Courtyard at the Hospital in Arles Page10........... Bibliography Page 11...........Bibliography (continued) Page 12...........Bibliography (continued) 2
Introduction: Vincent van Gogh is one of the most well known artists in history, even though during his lifetime he only sold 1 painting and struggled to be noticed. He primarily painted on canvas using paint in diluted oil with a brush. He was a post-impressionist artist who mostly used landscape and cityscape media. Page 1 3
Biography: Vincent van Gogh was born on the 30 th of May in 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Holland. His father was a pastor so Vincent was in a very religious environment. As a child he had a deficiency of self-confidence and he was extremely emotional. When Vincent decided to become an artist he already went through a series of jobs that weren t successful. One of the jobs was a preacher in Borinage in Belgium, where he stayed to study art. His first paintings were very gloomy. In 1886 he joined Theo in Paris who was the manager of Goupil s Gallery. Vincent studied Cormon in Paris and met Pisarro, Monet and Gauguin. Eventually he started using brighter colours and painted in short brush strokes of the Impressionists. Then he went to Arles with Gauguin but in 1888 Gauguin left because Vincent had chased him with a razor but cut a bit of his ear lobe off instead. After Vincent had fits of insanity and lucidity he went to receive treatment in Saint-Remy s asylum. In 1890, May, he appeared better and went to live in Auyers-sur-Oise, supervised by Dr. Gachet but after two months he committed suicide by shooting himself. During his lifetime he only sold 1 painting but now he is one of the most magnificent artists in history. To learn more about Vincent van Gogh visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vincent_van_gogh, www.vangoghgallery.com Page 2 4
Paintings by Vincent: It has reached the peak of artistic accomplishments. One of the most well known images in modern culture Title: Starry Night Artist: Vincent van Gogh Date: 1889 Media: Canvas Size: 73.7 cm 92.1 cm Location: The Museum of Modern Art URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.c om/painting/starryindex.html Page 3 One of the most replicated and wanted prints. 5
This painting contains humans, unlike Starry Night. It isn t as well known as Starry Night but it is still an enjoyable sight. It also is a very sought after painting when it is sited with Starry Night. Title: Starry Night Over The Rhone Artist: Vincent van Gogh Date: 1888 Media: Oil paint on canvas Location: Museum of Orsay Size: 72.5cm x 92cm URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/ painting/starryindex.html Page 4 6
Title: Cafe Terrace At Night Date: 1888 Media: Oil paint on canvas Size: 25? Location: Kroller-Muller Museum URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.co m/catalog/painting/53/café- Terrace-on-the-Place-du-Forum,- Arles,-at-Night,-The.html Shares Similarities with Starry Night and Starry Night Over the Rhone. Page 5 7
URL: http://www.reproarte.com/pi cture/vincent+van_gogh/tw elve+sunflowers+in+a+vase/5 227.html Title: Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase Date: 1889 Media: Oil paint on canvas Size: 91cm x 71cm Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art Page 6 8
Vincent painted this in the asylum in Saint-Remy, using his surroundings as his inspiration. Title: Irises Artist: Vincent van Gogh Date: 1889 Media: Oil paint on canvas Size: 27.7cm x 36.3cm Location: J. Paul Getty Museum URL: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/irisesindex.html Page 7 9
Timeline of Vincent s van Gogh s life and the world around him: 1853: Vincent was born 1854: The Crimean War started 1855: Czar Nicholas I of Russia died and was succeeded by Alexander II 1857: Vincent s brother, Theodorus, was born 1859: Charles Darwin published the Origin of the Species 1860: Abraham Lincoln was elected the US president Vincent is sent to a local elementary school 1861: The Civil War started Vincent started being homeschooled 1863: The French captured Mexico City Vincent finished being homeschooled 1864:Vincent goes to a boarding school in Zevenbergen. 1865: The Civil War ended 1866: Vincent attended the Willem II College in Tilburg 1870: The Franco Prussian War breaks out 1871: The Franco Prussian War ends 1885: Theodorus, Vincent s father, dies 1890: Vincent commits suicide 1891: Theo dies Page 8 10
Title: Courtyard at the Hospital in Arles Artist: Vincent van Gogh Date: 1889 Media: Oil paint on canvas Size: Location: Oskar Reinhart Collection URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Paintin g/88/courtyard-of-the-hospital-at-arles,-the.html I assume Vincent choose this colour scheme because the courtyard made him feel calm and relaxed. The detail of the trees and grass shows a lively emotion in the lines. The technique of Vincent does make the scenery look alive and happy. I think the message he is trying to convey here is that your surroundings influence your feelings. Page 9 This painting is of a landscape that does still exist today. The colour scheme has a relaxing feel because of the use of calm colours. He uses complementary colours such as the house s roof and pond being blue and the pots being orange. 11
Bibliography: Author:Unknown Title: Greatest Artists URL:http://www.greatestpainters.com/vincent-van-gogh/vincent-van-gogh-the-courtyard-of-the-hospitalin-arles/ Retrieved: 31/10/2010 Author: David Cody Title: Crimean War URL:www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea.html Retrieved: 31/10/2010 Author: New World Encyclopedia writers and editors (02/04/08) Title: Nicholas I of Russia URL:http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nicholas_I_of_Russia Retrieved: 31/10/10 Author: Peter Landry (01/01) Title: The Scientists:Charles Darwin URL:http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Science/Darwin.htm Retrieved: 31/10/10 Author: Robin Chew (1995-2010) Title: Abraham Lincoln URL:www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/lincoln.html Retrieved: 31/10/10 Page 10 12
Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starryindex.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/sunflowerindex.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/irisesindex.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/ Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/quotes.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Beth Gersh-Nesic Title of page: Van Gogh Timeline URL: http://arthistory.about.com/od/vangogh/a/timeline.htm Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Unknown Title: 1861-1865: The Civil War URL:www.taxanalysts.com/museum/1861-1865.htm Retrieved: 31/10/10 Page 11 13
Author: Kennedy Hickman Title: Franco-Mexican War: Mexico City Captured URL:http://militaryhistory.about.com/b/2007/06/07/francomexican-war-mexico-city-captured.htm Retrieved: 31/01/10 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Author: Unknown Title: 1861-1865: The Civil War URL:www.taxanalysts.com/museum/1861-1865.htm Retrieved: 31/10/10 Author: Kennedy Hickman Title: Franco-Mexican War: Mexico City Captured URL:http://militaryhistory.about.com/b/2007/06/07/francomexican-war-mexico-city-captured.htm Retrieved: 31/01/10 Author: Templeton Reid, LLC Title of page: Vincent van Gogh Biography URL: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html Retrieved: October 17, 2010 Page 12 14