Mystery Person of the Day

Mama gnome presents the

MYSTERY PERSON OF THE DAY:


He is Mama gnome's favorite artist.
He was born on March 30, 1853 in the Netherlands.
He was a "pioneer of Expressionism."
He started his career as an artist when he was 27.




If your guess is Vincent van Gogh, you get a great big hug
and Mama gnome says, "Why don't you paint sunflowers then..."


photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VincentVanGoghFoto.jpg


Prior to becoming an artist, Van Gogh worked as an art dealer, a missionary worker and teacher.

He was very close to his brother Theo. Theo encouraged, mentored and supported Van Gogh emotionally and financially.

The brothers loved each other unconditionally. Right up to the final moments of Vincent van Gogh's life. Here is an account:

Vincent and Theo remained together for the last hours of Vincent's life. Theo was devoted to his brother, holding him and speaking with him in Dutch. Vincent seemed resigned to his fate and Theo later wrote: "He himself wanted to die; when I sat at his bedside and said that we would try to get him better and that we hoped that he would then be spared this kind of despair, he said 'La tristesse durera toujours' ('The sadness will last forever.') I understand what he wanted to say with those words." Theo, always his brother's greatest friend and supporter, was holding Vincent as he spoke his last words: "I wish I could pass away like this."

Vincent van Gogh died on July 29, 1890. He was 37 years old.

His brother, Theo van Gogh, died six months later.


Though Van Gogh started his career as an artist late,

...during the last ten years of his life, he produced more than 2,000 pieces, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches. Most of his best-known works were produced during his final two years, amid the recurrent bouts of mental illness which led to his eventual suicide at the age of 37.

Vincent van Gogh lived a tumultuous and difficult life. Yet through all his hardships and sadness he painted the most beautiful paintings, capturing the most vivid colors of nature, sunflowers, irises, almond trees, stars and people.

Mama gnome will always be grateful to him for showing us the wonder and beauty of our planet.



video from Shaelrion
"Vincent" by Don Mclean

Mama gnome hopes you've enjoyed learning a little bit about Vincent van Gogh.

Thank you for visiting this little garden and come back soon to find out who will be the next Mystery Person of the Day.

Please help keep our planet beautiful. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog