Vincent Van Gogh(30 Mareh 1853~29 July 1890)was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. He is considered one of the greatest artists with great influence on 20th century art.
Van Gogh spent his early adult life working for a firm of art dealers. After a brief period as a teacher, he became a missionary(传教士)worker in a very poor mining region. He did not begin his career as an artist until 1880; however during the last ten years of his life, he produced more than 2,000 pieces, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches(素描).
He worked only with sombre(昏暗的)colours until he met Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism in Paris. Van Gogh incorporated(合并)their bright colours and style of painting into a uniquely recognizable style. Most of his best-known works were produced during his final two years, when he was suffering from serious mental illness.
In 1890, at the age of 37, Van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died two days later, with Theo, his brother and his best friend, at his side, who reported his last words as “The sadness will last forever”. Theo, unable to come to terms with his brother’s death died 6 months later and was buried next to him. It would not take long before his fame grew higher and higher.
Vincent Van Gogh’s mother threw away quite a number of his paintings during Vincent’s life and even after his death. But she would live long enough to see her son become a world famous painter.
The only painting he sold during his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, was created in 1888. It is now on display in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia. Several paintings by Van Gogh rank among the most expensive paintings in the world.
On March 30, 1987 Van Gogh’s painting Irises was sold for a record 53.9 million at Southeby’s, New York. On May 15, 1990 his Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold for $82.5 million at Christie’s, thus establishing a new price record.
4. What’s the right order of Van Gogh’s life experience?
a. worked as a teacher
b. took up drawing
c. worked in an art firm
d. worked as a missionary worker
A.c, a, b, d | B.c, a, d, b | C.b, c, a, d | D.b, a, c, d |
5. Which words can best describe Van Gogh’s later years?
A.Sad and boring. | B.Normal and peaceful. |
C.Happy but fruitless. | D.Painful but productive. |
6. Why did Van Gogh kill himself?
A.Because he was a failure as an artist. |
B.Because he had an unhappy family. |
C.Because he lost his beloved brother. |
D.Because he was suffering from mental illness. |
7. What can we learn from the passage?
A.Van Gogh didn’t become famous until he died. |
B.Van Gogh drew and sold many paintings in his life. |
C.Van Gogh achieved great success during his lifetime. |
D.Van Gogh drew most of his paintings between 1888 and 1890. |