In the history of Van Gogh's ear, a new character
British explorer Martin Bailey (Martin Bailey) has put forward a new theory about why and under what circumstances, the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear in the evening on Dec. 23, 1888. Version scientist, author of a book on Van Goga, briefly described in The Sunday Times.
Bailey argues that the artist cut off his ear after it learned of the intention to marry his brother Theo. "Fearful of losing the financial and emotional support from his brother, from whom he was very dependent, Vincent cut off his earlobe," - the expert believes. This conclusion Bailey came by studying the letters of the family van Gogh.
In the study, a specialist found that the 21 December 1888, shortly before the incident with the ear of Van Gogh's mother received a letter from Theo, in which he requested permission to marry his beloved. Commenting on this letter, Bailey said, "Vincent, of course, was to be the following, who learned about the forthcoming wedding."
December 23, 1888 Vincent Van Gogh had received the money sent Theo from Paris. Being in despair because of the news of the forthcoming marriage (probably along with the money he received and the news of the impending ceremony), his brother, the painter cut off his earlobe. Theo came to him from Paris the next day. After the meeting in his letter to the bride Johanna, he wrote that Vincent knows about their plan to marry. "When I asked him whether he endorses our intention, he said that marriage should not become the main purpose of life" - wrote to his brother Van Gogh.
Despite the fact that Bailey, in fact, does not explain exactly how he learned about Van Gogh's wedding on December 23, experts say that this news has made an incredible impression on the artist. Moreover, according to a researcher for the Van Gogh receiving news of the marriage, Theo was one of the most significant events in life. Bailey said that the artist even captured it on one of his paintings.
It is a still life "plate with onions, work on which van Gogh finished in early 1889. On the canvas than the actual dish with onions and other objects are depicted, including the envelope with a letter. Studying the picture, Bailey saw a stamp on the envelope, indicating that the letter came from Paris. According to the expert, on the still life, Van Gogh, Theo sealed letter to his mother on December 21, 1888.
Martin Bailey has categorically rejected the theory of their German colleagues, Hans Kaufmann and Rita Vildegans.Kak previously reported, two researchers from the University of Hamburg, came to the conclusion that Van Gogh cut off his earlobe itself, as previously thought - it supposedly did in Paul Gauguin a fit of anger.
http://www.lenta.ru/news/2009/12/28/vangogh/