The statement that the outstanding post-impressionist was able to realize only one of his paintings during his lifetime has long become a commonplace. We checked whether this is actually true.

Many films have been made and hundreds of books have been written about the short life of Vincent van Gogh. The famous artist became a symbol of an artist who did not have time to realize himself, because, as some argue, his contemporaries did not realize his greatness. Others see the problem in the Dutchman's own complex character. One way or another, the phrase “Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime” has long been used in everyday life as a universal argument. Psychologists do not disdain it either. So, this example opens one of the chapters of the monograph “Personal potential: structure and diagnostics”.

Most often as the very only painting sold called The painting “Red Vineyards in Arles”, created in 1888. In 1890, after the painting was presented at an exhibition in Brussels, the Belgian artist Anna Bosch purchased it for 350 (according to other sources - 400) Belgian francs. Today the picture can be see in the Moscow Museum of Fine Arts named after A. S. Pushkin.

However, this was far from the artist’s only commercial success. On the website of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam found it difficult name the exact number of works sold by Vincent. However, according to the site, the first client in the life of the post-impressionist was his uncle Cor, who ordered his nephew a series of 19 landscapes of The Hague. Further, without specifying the name, another painting is mentioned, sold to the Parisian art dealer Julien Tanguy.

The archive preserves a letter from Vincent to his brother Theo dated February 18, 1882, in which he writesthat a certain art dealer Tersteeg bought a small drawing from him for 10 guilders. “The first sheep crossed the bridge,” notes a pleased Vincent about this.

In addition, in a letter dated October 3, 1888, Theo now addressed London art dealers Sally and Laurie: “We have the honor to inform you that we have sent you two paintings purchased and paid for by you: a landscape by Camille Corot and a self-portrait by Van Gogh.” However, some art critics are inclined count, that the letter has the wrong date and was sent after the death of Vincent van Gogh.

In a number of sources saidthat out of more than 900 paintings by the artist were sold, according to documents, at least 14 paintings were sold. However, this version does not find confirmation in the form of notorious documents. Information about the sale of two or three paintings by the artist during his lifetime can be considered more or less reliable. However, this is enough to consider the legend about the only work sold to be partially incorrect.