SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHTA Miniature Art Mystery by Christine Verstraete
Vincent Van Gogh Facts
Starry Night Facts
Some of Van Gogh's drawings and letter sketches included early renditions and recognizable elements of his most famous work, "The Starry Night." These included: Two Starry Nights
Vincent Van Gogh actually completed two Starry Night paintings. With its swirling sky, luminescent stars and contrast of light and dark, "The Starry Night," remains one of Van Gogh's most famous, and most popular, works. Van Gogh completed the painting while an asylum patient at Saint-Remy in 1889. The painting is owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
"Starry Night Over the Rhone" is equally striking and includes similar images of stars surrounded by bright orbs which contrast with the surrounding deep blue skies. Done in Arles, France, in Sept. 1888, it is now in the collection of the Musee d'Orsay, France. (See The Van Gogh Gallery for free Van Gogh icons, more information on the listed art and the artist. )
Fun Starry Night Sites
|
Vincent Van Gogh wrote more than 800 letters in his lifetime, mostly to his closest friend and benefactor, his brother Theo. Many included small sketches. 
Vincent's father was a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church. Vincent wanted to be a pastor and worked as an evangelist to the miners, one of many early careers he failed at. 
Vincent died on July 27, 1890, two days after shooting himself. Sadly, his brother Theo died only six months later. 
Vincent Van Gogh was prolific, completing thousands of drawings, sketches and paintings, but he was the classic poor artist - he sold only one of his works while he was alive. He did most of his art in the last decade of his life. 
"Starry Night" 
Version of "Starry Night," pen and ink 
Van Gogh's painting, "The Starry Night" continues to inspire artists and creators working in all sorts of media. Check out these fun and unusual Starry Night sightings on the web: