Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on the 30th of March 1853, in the Dutch village of Groot-Zundert. He was named after his brother who was born already dead exactly one year before. Perhaps because of this van Gogh had a dark disposition.
He began work at the age of 15 at his uncle's art dealership before being transferred to a gallery in London 5 years later. There he developed a liking for English culture - and a love of his landlady's daughter. When she rejected van Gogh's proposal of marriage he suffered a breakdown and was dismissed from his employment.
Van Gogh then aimed for a career in the church but was twice rejected so he turned his mind to art. He enjoyed little success and was supported by his brother during these years.
[readmore]
His love life a complete disaster, van Gogh's mental health suffered once more. He argued passionately with his contemporaries about their paintings and became alienated amongst them.
In 1888 he moved to Arles in the south of France where his greatest works were created - although his mental health declined and he mutilated his ear before voluntarily being admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he spent one year.
On the 27th of July 1890, van Gogh shot himself in the chest. The wound did not kill him and he was discovered and taken to hospital. His brother Theo was called for and two days later van Gogh died in his brother's arms at the age of just 37.
Despite his harsh life, his poverty, his struggle with mental illness and his failure to achieve recognition during his lifetime, van Gogh is today considered one of the best Dutch painters, second only to Rembrandt. He created over 2,000 paintings in his short, yet productive life.
[/readmore]
For a closer look at the pictures, please click on them to enlarge.
1.
|
Van Gogh deliberately chose unattractive models for this painting of peasants sitting down for a meal. What is the painting's name?
|
|
[ ] |
A Peasant Supper |
[ ] |
Dinner Time |
[ ] |
The Potato Eaters |
[ ] |
An Earthy Meal |
|
|
2.
|
The Bedroom is a painting Van Gogh made of his bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles. The door on the left side of the picture led to a guest room where which other artist slept?
|
|
[ ] |
Gauguin |
[ ] |
Monet |
[ ] |
Renoir |
[ ] |
Manet |
|
|
3.
|
Also painted at Arles in the same year as the previous painting (1888) this piece is entitled Starry Night Over... which river?
|
|
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Garonne |
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Aude |
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Adour |
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Rhone |
|
|
4.
|
Also painted at Arles, and with a theme of light at night time, The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum was originally entitled what?
|
|
[ ] |
Tables, and Stars |
[ ] |
Coffeehouse, in the evening |
[ ] |
Drinkers, in Darkness |
[ ] |
Bar, at night |
|
|
5.
|
One of a series of paintings on the same subject, Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers was briefly the most expensive work of art when in 1987 it was sold for what price?
|
|
[ ] |
£44,750,000 |
[ ] |
£34,750,000 |
[ ] |
£24,750,000 |
[ ] |
£14,750,000 |
|
|
6.
|
Wheat Field with Cypresses is the title of three almost identical works by van Gogh which were painted in 1889 whilst the artist was living where?
|
|
[ ] |
A private school |
[ ] |
An abbey |
[ ] |
A hermitage |
[ ] |
A mental health asylum |
|
|
7.
|
Also painted during van Gogh's voluntary confinement was this painting of which kind of tree?
|
|
[ ] |
A mulberry tree |
[ ] |
An oak tree |
[ ] |
A cypress tree |
[ ] |
An apple tree |
|
|
8.
|
Influenced by Japanese prints and also painted during van Gogh's time at the asylum, this is a painting of which type of flowers?
|
|
[ ] |
Violets |
[ ] |
Irises |
[ ] |
Pansies |
[ ] |
Bluebells |
|
|
9.
|
This is perhaps van Gogh's most famous painting. It is the inspiration for a song by Don Mclean in tribute to the artist. What is the painting's title?
|
|
[ ] |
Night Time Clouds |
[ ] |
The Starry Night |
[ ] |
View from Bedroom Window |
[ ] |
Evening over Arles |
|
|
10.
|
A symbol of new life, Almond Blossom was painted in 1890 to celebrate the birth of who?
|
|
[ ] |
Van Gogh's son |
[ ] |
Van Gogh's nephew |
[ ] |
Van Gogh's daughter |
[ ] |
Van Gogh's niece |
|
|
1.
|
Van Gogh deliberately chose unattractive models for this painting of peasants sitting down for a meal. What is the painting's name?
|
|
[ ] |
A Peasant Supper |
[ ] |
Dinner Time |
[x] |
The Potato Eaters |
[ ] |
An Earthy Meal |
|
|
2.
|
The Bedroom is a painting Van Gogh made of his bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles. The door on the left side of the picture led to a guest room where which other artist slept?
|
|
[x] |
Gauguin |
[ ] |
Monet |
[ ] |
Renoir |
[ ] |
Manet |
|
|
3.
|
Also painted at Arles in the same year as the previous painting (1888) this piece is entitled Starry Night Over... which river?
|
|
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Garonne |
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Aude |
[ ] |
Starry Night Over the Adour |
[x] |
Starry Night Over the Rhone |
|
|
4.
|
Also painted at Arles, and with a theme of light at night time, The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum was originally entitled what?
|
|
[ ] |
Tables, and Stars |
[x] |
Coffeehouse, in the evening |
[ ] |
Drinkers, in Darkness |
[ ] |
Bar, at night |
|
|
5.
|
One of a series of paintings on the same subject, Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers was briefly the most expensive work of art when in 1987 it was sold for what price?
|
|
[ ] |
£44,750,000 |
[ ] |
£34,750,000 |
[x] |
£24,750,000 |
[ ] |
£14,750,000 |
|
|
6.
|
Wheat Field with Cypresses is the title of three almost identical works by van Gogh which were painted in 1889 whilst the artist was living where?
|
|
[ ] |
A private school |
[ ] |
An abbey |
[ ] |
A hermitage |
[x] |
A mental health asylum |
|
|
7.
|
Also painted during van Gogh's voluntary confinement was this painting of which kind of tree?
|
|
[x] |
A mulberry tree |
[ ] |
An oak tree |
[ ] |
A cypress tree |
[ ] |
An apple tree |
|
|
8.
|
Influenced by Japanese prints and also painted during van Gogh's time at the asylum, this is a painting of which type of flowers?
|
|
[ ] |
Violets |
[x] |
Irises |
[ ] |
Pansies |
[ ] |
Bluebells |
|
|
9.
|
This is perhaps van Gogh's most famous painting. It is the inspiration for a song by Don Mclean in tribute to the artist. What is the painting's title?
|
|
[ ] |
Night Time Clouds |
[x] |
The Starry Night |
[ ] |
View from Bedroom Window |
[ ] |
Evening over Arles |
|
|
10.
|
A symbol of new life, Almond Blossom was painted in 1890 to celebrate the birth of who?
|
|
[ ] |
Van Gogh's son |
[x] |
Van Gogh's nephew |
[ ] |
Van Gogh's daughter |
[ ] |
Van Gogh's niece |
|
|