Vincent van Gogh Trivia

1. The period of van Gogh's greatest artistic output started while he was living in Arles, where he arrived in February of 1888. Which of his artist friends did he invite to join him there so that they could set up an artists' colony?

From Quiz Death of an Artist

Answer: Paul Gauguin

All of these artists had been in van Gogh's circle of acquaintances before he moved to Arles, but it was Paul Gauguin whom he convinced to join him. While waiting for his friend to arrive, van Gogh started a series of paintings of sunflowers, alluded to in Gauguin's painting of him, titled "The Painter of Sunflowers: Portrait of Vincent van Gogh".

From Quiz A Delicate Flower Emerging - Van Gogh's Life

Answer: Scheveningen

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30 1853 in Zundert, a town in the southern part of the Netherlands, near the city of Breda. In 1870 he received his first taste of the art world, while working at the gallery of art dealers Goupil et Cie in The Hague, London and Paris. He lost his love for art and decided to devote his career to becoming a minister for the poor and miners in the Borinage region. Gradually he found his way back to art, supported by his brother Theo. In the "Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather" painting it is said that you can actually see grains of sand in the thickly applied paint.

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: The Netherlands

He was born in the Dutch village of Groot-Zunderton on March 30, 1853. He was the eldest of six siblings but his mother, Anna had given birth to a stillborn son, also called Vincent, on March 30, 1852. This was a coincidence that could possibly help to account for Vincent's morbidity later in life.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: The death of an infant child

The first child born to the parents, Vincent Van Gogh, was stillborn. The man we know as Vincent Van Gogh was born one year later.

From Quiz Death of an Artist

Answer: He was upset after an argument

Only the argument (with Gauguin) actually ever happened. He never married or had children, although he once wrote that he considered his paintings to be his children. Despite van Gogh's admiration for Gauguin, and his desire that the two of them set up an artists' colony, it seems that the relationship was strained due to clashes of temperament. Gauguin arrived to stay on October 23, 1888; the famous argument, during the course of which van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a razor, occurred on December 28, 1888. By the time van Gogh got back to their shared house after being treated in hospital for his injury, Gauguin had packed his things and left. There is some debate as to whether van Gogh simply sliced off a bit of his earlobe, or removed the entire outer ear, or something in between. In fact, it has been suggested that it may have been done by Gauguin in the course of their argument!

From Quiz A Delicate Flower Emerging - Van Gogh's Life

Answer: The Potato Eaters

In 1882 Van Gogh had been working with his cousin-in-law Anton Mauve. They parted ways later, apparently because of the friendship Vincent had with a prostitute called Sien. Vincent left Sien in 1883 and after living in the province of Drenthe, moved back to his parents in Nuenen. In Nuenen he continued developing his art. In March 1885 his father died of a heart attack, which deeply saddened Vincent. In August of that year he completed a painting, that is considered to be one of his first major works of art. It was called "The Potato Eaters" and was the result of a series of character studies that he had done about peasant life. Van Gogh identified with the life of the working class, and he tried to paint the peasants as they really were.

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: A young lady

When Vincent was twenty he was living in London, and he fell in love with Eugenie Loyer who was the daughter of his landlady. Eugenie was already engaged at the time, but her rejection profoundly affected him.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: He was Van Gogh's younger brother

Vincent was closer to Theo than to any of his other siblings (and, possibly, closer to Theo than to anyone else in his life).

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: Minister

Van Gogh's father was a minister; the religious upbringing carried over into Vincent's life. (At one point, he attempted to enter a school of theology.)

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: Antwerp

Vincent only remained at the Academy for a few months due to disagreements with his tutors. For example, he thought that he should be in an advanced drawing class but the tutor felt he wasn't skilled enough, and wanted to move him to the preparatory class.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: Art Gallery

Theo shared Van Gogh's interest in art and worked in a gallery in Paris.

From Quiz Death of an Artist

Answer: gunshot wound

Although the circumstances under which he received his fatal injury are not clear, it is clear that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest that he received during the day of 27 July 1890. He may have been painting in the fields at the time, or he may have been in a barn near the inn where he was lodging. He may or may not have been alone at the time.

From Quiz A Delicate Flower Emerging - Van Gogh's Life

Answer: Agostina Segatori

At the end of 1886 conflicts started arising between Vincent and his brother Theo and it became difficult for them to live together. After a year the brothers patched things up again, but by then Vincent had moved to Asnières in the northwestern part of Paris. At the end of 1887 Vincent became friends with Paul Gauguin, who had just arrived in Paris. One of the paintings Van Gogh made in this period was called "Agostina Segatori Sitting in the Café du Tambourin". The painting shows Agostina sitting at a table, a theme introduced by impressionist painters.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: Coal Mining

Van Gogh tried to help the poor people who lived in a coal mining community; his art often reflects the hard life of these people.

From Quiz A Delicate Flower Emerging - Van Gogh's Life

Answer: The Yellow House

Vincent arrived in the city of Arles in February 1888. He was amazed by the light and colours of the town and felt like a foreign country. He came to Arles with dreams of starting a utopian colony and for two months he worked with Danish artist Christian Mourier-Petersen. In May 1888 he rented a room in the Yellow House, on Rue Lamartine. His period in Arles is characterized by the use of rich colours, like yellow, ultramarine and mauve. He completed "The Yellow House" in September 1888. It shows the house with the sun shining down under a clear blue sky and it was in this house where Paul Gauguin came to stay from October 1888.

From Quiz Death of an Artist

Answer: 29 July 1890

After being shot during the day of 27 July, van Gogh died in the evening of 29 July. He actually died of infection following the gunshot wound, not from bleeding to death. He was buried in the town cemetery of Auvers-sur-Oise on 30 July. The service was attended by his brother Theo, some of van Gogh's artist friends, and a number of locals, including Dr Gachet. He was either accidentally shot by someone else, or he committed suicide and shot himself.

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: blue/green and yellow

The yellow pigment that was used in these paintings was a newly manufactured pigment that gave the paintings a fresh vibrancy. Without this invention art historians have questioned whether the paintings would have become so famous.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: Potatoes

One of Vincent's early masterpieces is "The Potato Eaters".

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: Gauguin

Paul Gauguin was a Post-Impressionist painter who heavily influenced Van Gogh. The sunflower was Gauguin's favourite flower.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: The Red Vineyards

Al of the choices mentioned are paintings by Van Gog; "Sunflowers" and "Starry Night" are particularly well -known. It was "vineyards", however, that Theo sold (via his gallery) for Vincent.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: Gunshot wound

After great trials and tribulations in a stormy life, it is believed that Van Gogh shot himself.

From Quiz Death of an Artist

Answer: Vincent

The incorrect options are also songs by Don McLean, but they have nothing (directly, at any rate) to do with Vincent van Gogh. The song "Vincent" contains many references to the life and art of van Gogh, so much so that I sense another entire quiz lurking in the wings. "Vincent" was released on the album "American Pie" in 1971. The song is also often referred to by its opening line, "Starry, Starry Night", which was also the name of a live album produced in 2001.

From Quiz The Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh

Answer: Suicide

Tragically, on July 27, 1890, Vincent shot himself. He took two days to die. Throughout the years, his younger brother Theo had been his best friend and most loyal supporter. It was Theo who was with him in his final hours.

From Quiz Van Gogh (and Theo)

Answer: In his 30s

Van Gogh died at 37. It was a short life filled with talent - but also filled with great physical and emotional pain.

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Last Updated Apr 22 2024 11:06 AM

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