Vincent Van Gogh
Kelly mcginnis
Early Life
Getting Involved
Choices and Results
During his lifetime, Van Gogh was never famous as a painter and struggled to make a living as an artist. Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime, but he never gave up. Vincent Van Gogh's career as a painter ended when he died at the age of 37. After his death, his paintings lived on and became famous works of art making Van Gogh one of the greatest painters in the world with his legacy inspiring future artists.
In His Words
"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." -Vincent Van Gogh
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." -Vincent Van Gogh
Aftermath
Van Gogh's paintings are highly desired by art enthusiasts and are in high demand as there are less than a dozen in private hands. In auctions when his work is available, the bids reach monstrous amounts. "In 1998 Self-Portrait Without a Beard sold for $71.5 million; in 1990 Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold for an amazing $82.5 million, the highest price ever paid for a Van Gogh. In 2006 his L'Arlesienne, Madame Ginoux sold for more than $40 million, the fourth highest price paid for a painting by the artist."
Words for Him
Don McLean's Song about Vincent:
"Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now, I understand, what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
Now, I understand, what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frame less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now, I think I know what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will"
Legacy
Vincent Van Gogh has inspired other painters, designers and artists. His pieces are a meaningful part of art history and are extraordinary. Van Gogh was an amazing artist whose artwork catches people's eyes and leaves a lasting impression.
Annotated Bibliography
http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html?q=Vincent+Van+Gogh
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Vincent_van_Gogh
http://store.vangoghgallery.com/showprint.aspx?pid=681192
http://www.songlyrics.com/don-mclean/vincent-lyrics/#SVO2bts6r8iblCRU.99
i chose these sources because they had more information and were more recent.