Journalist Martin Bailey, having studied painting "Still life with onion, came to the conclusion that the artist cut off his ear, stunned by the news of the future marriage of his brother, Theo

Late at night on Dec. 23, 1888 Vincent van Gogh (Vincent van Gogh) cut off his left ear lobe. About this event is very well known art critics and historians, but so far no one managed to find a lucid explanation for such strange things. It is believed that this step van Gogh pushed a quarrel with Gauguin (Paul Gaughin), who was then staying with him in a yellow house in Arles.

But recently, journalist Martin Bailey (Martin Bailey), are concerned with the art of Van Gogh, found another possible reason for an action painter. The key to unraveling served "Still life with onion, which shows an envelope with a letter from Theo - the brother of the artist. Probably, Vincent got it in the same fateful day, December 23, 1888.

handwriting on the envelope, of course, belongs to Theo. Also one of the postmarks figure is 67 - number of post office in Paris, near which he lived Theo. About the time of dispatch of this letter indicates another stamp with the inscription Jour de l'An ( «Happy New Year"). How do I find experts, is preparing a publication of Van Gogh's letters, envelopes with such markings, as a rule, were in circulation in the New Year days. They also suggested that a letter would come on Dec. 23 with 100 francs content that Theo Van Gogh to the regular delivery by mail.

Martin Bailey came to the conclusion that the letter Theo likely , informed his brother that is in love with Johanna Bonger (Johanna Bonger) and plans to marry her. It is likely that this news is extremely upset and frightened for Vincent, who is very dependent on the emotional and financial support for her brother, and it provoked him to have to mutilate themselves.

assumed that Vincent learned of the engagement, Theo, when it was lying with his ear cut off in the hospital. However, there are some facts that some disagree with this point of view. Teo met with Joanna in Paris in mid-December 1888, a few days they decided to get married, and December 21, Theo wrote to his mother's letter, which requested permission to marry. Undoubtedly, his brother, Vincent would be as follows, to whom he was to report on their plans.

Also, apparently, Vincent already knew about the engagement of his brother when he came to see him the hospital on Christmas. In one of his letters, which have recently been published, Theo wrote to his sweetheart on this visit: "When I mentioned to you, he probably knew at once who I'm talking about. And when I asked him about whether he approves of our plans, he replied in the affirmative, but stated that marriage should not be considered as the main thing in my life ».

At Christmas Vincent have suffered severely from the wound and was in a state of mental disorder, so it is unlikely that Theo at the precise moment he decided to hurl at his brother the news of her engagement. Rather, he talked about it because he already knew everything.

A few days after returning from the hospital in Arles yellow house, 7 January 1889 Van Gogh, and wrote the same "Still life with onions. The presence of a letter from Theo in the composition indicates that it was an artist of great importance.

«Still life with onion, which is included in the collection Kreller-Muller Museum in Otterlo (Netherlands) can be seen at the exhibition at London's Royal Academy, which opens Jan. 23.

Material prepared Ekaterina Guseva, AI

Source: bloomberg. com , theartnewspaper.com , artinvestment.ru