5 things about Vincent van Gogh — and that gun
- Painter, whose artworks are much prized today – but who sold only one in his lifetime – died on July 29, 1890, two days after he shot himself with revolver expected to sell for US$67,000
The revolver with which Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh is believed to have shot himself on July 27, 1890 goes under the hammer at auction in Paris on Wednesday.
The artist, who at the time had been painting in a field in the countryside outside Auvers-Sur-Oise, north of Paris, managed to walk back to the hostel where he was staying.
The Van Gogh Museum said the bullet glanced off Van Gogh’s rib cage and was deflected downwards, but was lodged too deeply to be removed without considerable danger – which is why he died of his wounds about 30 hours later, aged 37.
The weapon used by Van Gogh was not found at the time. But in about 1960 a farmer working in his fields discovered an old, heavily corroded weapon which had been in the ground for many years. This was taken to be the gun that fired the shot.
The 7mm Lefaucheux revolver he is thought to have used – billed as “the most famous weapon in the history of art” – has an estimated value of up to €60,000 (US$67,000).
Check out five things to know about the acclaimed artist.
France: most creative period