Svencent van Gogh and "Starry Night"Vincent van Gogh produced all of his work (some 900 paintings and 1100 drawings) during the ten year period before he committed suicide. Most of his best-known work was produced in the final two years of his life. In the two months before his death he painted 90 pictures.
On July 27, 1890 Vincent van Gogh set out, with his easel and painting materials, into the fields; he took out a revolver and shot himself in the chest. Van Gogh was able to make it back to the Ravoux Inn where he was cared for by Dr. Mazery and Dr. Gachet. The doctors decided not to remove the bullet, and they sent for Theo. Theo arrived the following afternoon. Comforted by Theo's presence, van Gogh told his brother, “I wish I could pass away like this.” Theo reported Vincent’s last words as “the sadness will last forever.” He died at 1:30 A.M. on July 29, aged 37.
A small group of friends and family attended his funeral, abundant with sunflowers. Among the mourners was Dr. Gachet, who spoke a few words. “He was an honest man... and a great artist,” Gachet eulogized. “He had only two goals, humanity and art.”
