Vincent van Gogh Family Tree: The Story Behind Post-Impressionism's Greatest Painter

Vincent Willem van Gogh, born 30 March 1853 in Zundert, Kingdom of the Netherlands, was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose 2,100+ works (860 oil paintings; 1,300 drawings/watercolours) were almost entirely produced in the last 10 years of his life. He died 29 July 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, age 37, of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The Family's Roots: A Dutch Reformed Church Family

The van Gogh family was a respectable Dutch Reformed family — pastors and art dealers across multiple generations. The Van Gogh art-dealing dynasty had been prominent in the Netherlands since the early 1800s.

His Parents

Father: Theodorus "Dorus" van Gogh (1822–1885) — Dutch Reformed pastor in Zundert, Helvoirt, and Etten.

Mother: Anna Cornelia Carbentus (1819–1907) — homemaker; daughter of a successful bookbinder to the Dutch royal court.

His Siblings

Vincent was the eldest of six surviving children (a still-born first child was named Vincent — a year before the painter's birth):

Anna Cornelia van Gogh (1855–1930) — sister.

Theodorus "Theo" van Gogh (1857–1891) — younger brother; art dealer at Goupil & Cie; Vincent's lifelong financial and emotional supporter; died 6 months after Vincent.

Elisabeth "Lies" van Gogh (1859–1936) — sister.

Willemina "Wil" van Gogh (1862–1941) — sister; spent most of her adult life in a mental institution.

Cornelis "Cor" van Gogh (1867–1900) — youngest brother; died fighting in the Second Boer War in South Africa.

His Sister-in-Law: Jo van Gogh-Bonger

Johanna "Jo" Gezina Bonger (1862–1925) — Theo's wife from April 1889; Vincent's sister-in-law; after Theo and Vincent's deaths, she systematically promoted Vincent's work for 35 years — translated his letters, organised exhibitions, and built the market that secured his posthumous fame.

His Nephew

Vincent Willem van Gogh (1890–1978) — Theo and Jo's son; namesake; co-founded the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (opened 1973).

The van Gogh Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Dutch Reformed pastors and art-dealing family; Zundert.

Father: Theodorus van Gogh (1822–1885) — Dutch Reformed pastor.

Mother: Anna Carbentus (1819–1907) — daughter of royal bookbinder.

Siblings: Anna (1855–1930); Theo (1857–1891) — art dealer; Vincent's lifelong supporter; Lies (1859–1936); Wil (1862–1941) — institutionalised; Cor (1867–1900) — died in Boer War.

Sister-in-Law: Jo van Gogh-Bonger (1862–1925) — promoted Vincent's work posthumously.

Nephew: Vincent Willem van Gogh (1890–1978) — Van Gogh Museum co-founder.

Vincent van Gogh:

  • Born 30 March 1853, Zundert
  • Goupil & Cie art dealership: 1869–1876 (Hague, London, Paris)
  • Lay preacher (Borinage, Belgium): 1879
  • Decided to become an artist: 1881
  • Major periods: Netherlands (1881–86, including The Potato Eaters 1885); Paris (1886–88); Arles, Provence (1888–89; produced Sunflowers series, Café Terrace at Night, The Yellow House); Saint-Rémy-de-Provence asylum (1889–90; Starry Night 1889); Auvers-sur-Oise (1890; Wheatfield with Crows)
  • Sold only one painting in his lifetime (The Red Vineyard, 1888, for 400 francs)
  • Severed part of his left ear: 23 December 1888 (after a quarrel with Gauguin)
  • Died 29 July 1890, Auvers-sur-Oise (gunshot wound, 27 July, considered self-inflicted but disputed)
  • ~2,100 works produced in 10 years
  • Theo's funeral was the same month as Vincent's marker placed at Auvers

What the van Gogh Family Story Teaches Us

A Dutch Reformed pastor father. A homemaker mother. Five siblings — one died as a child, one died fighting in South Africa, one was institutionalised, one was Vincent's lifelong supporter and died six months after Vincent. A sister-in-law who spent 35 years promoting his work and made his posthumous fame. A nephew who co-founded the museum that now bears his name.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Vincent story carries the same lesson. Sometimes the family member who isn't the artist is what makes the art remembered. Jo van Gogh-Bonger's 35-year campaign for Vincent's recognition is on the van Gogh family record alongside Starry Night — and explains why we still know his name. Write down which family member preserved the work.

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