Theo van Gogh (art dealer)

Theodorus ( Theo ) van Gogh ( born May 1, 1857 in Groot- Zundert near Breda, Netherlands, † 25 January 1891 in Utrecht, Netherlands) was a Dutch art dealer and collector. He was a younger brother of the painter Vincent van Gogh and great-grandfather of the director of the same name.

Life

Theo van Gogh was born the son of the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church of Theodorus van Gogh and the bookbinder 's daughter Anna Cornelia, born Carbentus, ( 1819-1907 ). In 1873 he began training in the Brussels art dealer Goupil & Cie, who belonged to one of his uncles as a partner. He provided good service and later ran one of the Paris offices of the gallery. In a time when these were still fighting for recognition, he sat there one for the sale of paintings of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.

However, Theo van Gogh was known primarily for his relationship with his four years older brother, Vincent van Gogh. Over the years, he supported the commercially unsuccessful painter with regular payments, for which he received an agreement pursuant to a majority of its time unsaleable pictures. At the same time, he promoted his brother with affection and encouragement and was the most important person. The extensive exchange of letters between the brothers led from 1872, provides information both about Vincent's life as well as his thoughts on painting and is an important source of Van Gogh research.

1889 married Theo van Gogh Johanna Bonger, a year later their son Vincent Willem was born. The suicide of his brother on July 29, 1890 met Theo van Gogh difficult. For him, began a phase of extensive activities: In addition to the funeral he organized a memorial exhibition ( which eventually took place at his home ) and strove for a book project. In the literature, the resulting revision, called in conjunction with an already poor health, as a trigger for the mental breakdown, the Theo van Gogh suffered in October 1890. His family had converted him into a mental hospital in Utrecht, where he died from the effects of syphilis on 25 January 1891 at the age of 33 years. After a reburial, he is now in Auvers -sur -Oise, near Paris, buried the last residence of his brother at his side.