Chronicles the life of nineteenth-century painter Vincent Van Gogh, describing his childhood in Holland, his years in France, his relationships with his brother and with fellow artist Paul Gaugin, his difficulties with women, his mental health, and his artistic vision.

Each night, when the hours of painting and drawing were over, Vincent van Gogh put pen to paper and poured out his heart through letters to his beloved brother Theo, his confidant and companion. No thought was too small, no element of his craft too insignificant, no happening too trivial. It was all scrupulously recorded and shared. In these letters, Van Gogh reveals himself as artist and man. Even more than if he had purposely intended to tell

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Everybody has heard about when Vincent van Gogh looked into a mirror and cut into his own ear. Bernadette Murphy, an independent researcher, has uncovered definitive evidence which reveals exactly what happened that night, and how it ultimately shaped van Gogh's remarkable art. Murphy's detective work finally provides answers to the mystery that has divided art historians for decades.

"When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother's diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn't her grandmother's. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law. Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh's paintings. They were all she had, and they weren't worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means...

The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh shaped both brothers' lives. They shared everything, swapping stories of lovers and friends, successes and disappointments, dreams and ambitions. Heiligman draws on the letters Vincent wrote to Theo during his lifetime to weave a tale of two lives intertwined as Theo supported Vincent's struggles to find his path in life.

"Featuring about 50 works by Vincent van Gogh, from his early drawings to his later iconic paintings, this catalogue traces the artist's life, the development of his art, and his significant legacy" -- Provided by publisher.