Mr. E's Art Room: Artist of the Week!

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This Week's artist is Vincent Van Gogh!

Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853. He painted over 900 paintings in just ten years. You can find out lots more by visiting www.vangoghgallery.com

Vincent Van Gogh doc. The Power of Art

Click the link above to watch really cool documentary on Vincent Van Gogh.

True or False

Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear for a woman? False. He cut off a portion of his ear lobe and took it to a prostitute who brought him, along with the ear, to a doctor. It is now believed his friend Paul Gauguin may have actually sliced off the earlobe while defending himself with a rapier, in a fight with Van Gogh, and that the two artists concocted the lost love story to keep Gauguin out of trouble. Whatever the case it was only an ear lobe, not the whole ear.

Vincent Van Gogh never sold a painting in his lifetime? False. He sold one, entitled Red Vineyard at Arles.

Vincent's brother Theo supported him throughout his career? True. Theo was a good and loyal brother who believed in his talent.

Vincent's mother used one of his paintings for a door to a chicken coop? False. Dr. Felix Rey, who stitched up Van Gogh after the ear incident, received a portrait of himself from Van Gogh in gratitude. The doctor didn't much care for the portrait and it was his mother who eventually used it to mend her chicken coop.

Which is your favorite Van Gogh painting and why? Tell me in the Comments section.