francene--blog. Year 2013
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April 22nd

4/22/2013

 
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After twenty years of intense study over notes, biographical authors claim Van Gogh did not kill himself. Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith say that, contrary to popular belief, it was more likely he was shot accidentally by two boys he knew who had a malfunctioning gun. The authors came to their conclusion after 10 years of study with more than 20 translators and researchers.

Thousands of previously untranslated letters written by the artist were among documents studied by the authors to create a research database containing 28,000 notes.

Van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, in 1890 aged 37. The Dutch master had been staying at the Auberge Ravoux inn from where he would walk to local wheat fields to paint.

It has long been thought that he shot himself before returning to the inn where he later died. However, it appears that he deliberately took the blame for two brothers, who were known to go drinking with him. One of the brothers liked to play cowboy with his manufactured gun. The accepted understanding of what happened in Auvers among the people who knew him was that he was killed accidentally and he decided to protect the brothers by accepting the blame. The reason being: he wanted to die.


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The author said that renowned art historian John Rewald had recorded that version of events when he visited Auvers in the 1930s. Other details were found that corroborated the theory. They include the assertion that the bullet entered Van Gogh's upper abdomen from an oblique angle, and not straight on as might be expected from a suicide.

His acceptance of the blame could have been done as an act of love for his brother Theo, for whom he was a burden. Van Gogh's paintings weren't selling well at the time.

Other revelations claimed by the authors include:

1.       Van Gogh's family tried to commit him to a mental asylum long before his voluntary confinement later

2.        Van Gogh fought so furiously with his parson father that some of his family accused him of killing him

3.       Van Gogh's affliction, viewed as a mix of mania and depression, was a result of a form of epilepsy

The biography, Van Gogh: The Life, published on Monday, will give a greater understanding of a frail and flawed man and his art should be considered even more of an achievement.

For twenty seven years, I lived with an undiagnosed bipolar man. My brilliant first husband's highs were a wonder to see, but his depressions got worse and worse, ultimately leading to threats of suicide. I couldn't help him. He is now under treatment, which, after 25 years, doesn't seem to be helping.

If you were gifted, how would you cope with such a debilitating illness, the lack of appreciation for what you did (be it painting, writing or any other business) and no cash flow? I'd like to think I could hold steady. Yet, with mental illness, that would be hard.


Amy link
4/21/2013 10:35:02 pm

Francene, When I was a student in college, I travelled in Europe and studied art in the great museums there. I'm so glad I was able to Van Gogh's work in person. It's brilliant and I was entranced by it. I'm so glad that this evidence is coming forward. It's sad either way, but if he had to die so young (and that's a shame of course) I would prefer that it not be by his own hand.

Francene Stanley link
4/21/2013 10:56:00 pm

You're right. At least his plight wasn't as desperate as once thought, and he acted in a kind way at the very end.

Harriet Stack link
4/22/2013 03:40:09 am

Very interesting. I've been to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and it was quite incredible to see all those paintings and drawings, even though we have quite a few of his in London. Many people suffering with mental illness find it hard enough to carry on when all the conditions of their life are fine, so with his circumstances, and knowing what we know now about mental health, it doesn't seem surprising, although tragic, that he would welcome death.

Francene Stanley link
4/22/2013 06:02:58 pm

How well you put this comment, Harriet. I agree with you entirely.

AMummysLife link
4/22/2013 06:27:27 am

I didn't know any of that! Thank you for widening my knowledge!

Francene Stanley link
4/22/2013 06:04:03 pm

You've got a whole life of learning ahead of you, new mummy. Enjoy your time right now.

Alana link
4/22/2013 08:18:43 am

A year or two ago, 60 Minutes, an hour news program on one of our major networks, did a feature on Van Gogh which must have been based on this same theory. I call it "theory" but I think it's pretty plausible. I worked for four years for a business whose owner, I suspect, was bipolar. It was like the job from hell at times. I can't imagine living with someone like that. Sadly, I've never been to Europe - I would have so much to learn and experience if I did go - I would need at least a year!

Francene Stanley link
4/22/2013 06:06:42 pm

I missed that program on Van Gogh. I guess all history is projecture, passed down by any means possible. Yes, living with a bipolar man caused enough stress in me to make me strong. Who knows how our trials will affect us?

Dee link
4/24/2013 07:36:47 pm

Thank you for sharing this link on my blog. This is a very interesting piece of new information about Vincent. If it's true, thenI'm glad he didn't die by his own hand but rather, died a hero for his friends. His story is still tragic, though, but maybe a little less now.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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