Skip Channel4 main Navigation
The ear incident was the final straw for the citizens of Arles, already exasperated by his drinking and sexual excesses. They signed a petition to have him sent away. Spending a year at the progressive asylum of St Remy, Vincent continued to paint at a frantic pace, diagnosed as epileptic and therefore allowed wider freedom. However, continuing mindstorms seemed to coincide with feelings of rejection, brought on first by Theo's marriage and then the birth of his child. Even the sale of his first picture to huge acclaim failed to lift him. He became desperately homesick for the gloomy Dutch landscapes.
Released from the asylum as 'cured', Vincent went to Paris before making what was to be his final home at Auvers, under the dubious care of a Dr Gachet. In the last 69 days of his life he created 80 paintings, before Theo's change of plan to visit finally sent Vincent over the edge. On 27 July 1990 he shot himself in the chest, living just long enough for Theo to reach his side. A few months later Theo was also dead from syphilis. He and Vincent are buried side-by-side in the cemetery at Auvers.
