On July 27, 1890, Vincent van Gogh came stumbling into his room in the Ravoux Inn, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, bleeding from a wound in his abdomen. Thirty hours later, Vincent was dead. THe common myth, which has prevailed for over one hundred years, is that the "mad" artist shot himself in a wheatfield after suffering from years of unhappiness and "insanity". But is that what really happened?Killing Vincent is meant as a historical analysis and exposé of the most dastardly murder of Vincent van Gogh and the19th century, nefarious cover up of the world's most iconic artist’s death. This is the biggest cold case in the annals of the art world. I have attempted to continue to explore the key questions that TIME magazine asked in its October 31, 2011, cover story: “Who killed Vincent van Gogh?” and “Was van Gogh’s death really a suicide?” on the “Culture” Cover. I have attempted to answer both questions by adding in modern 21st century forensic analysis. This work is not meant as an academic treatise or dissertation, with every observation, thought, and detail requiring documentation. It is only an attempt as an expose’, to seek the truth of what really happened on the day Vincent van Gogh was mortally wounded, and to best connect all the missing “dots”. In the process, I will try to fit the best murder scenario into what little is really accepted, and why he was murdered....significantly changing art history! This book attempts to explore all possible scenarios, no matter how likely or unlikely, or how relevant or irrelevant they may appear to be to this cold case at first glance. Which of several scenarios best puts all the facts, stories, and legends together and connects all these odd “dots” now in a persuasive manner? Sometimes the truth is more unbelievable than the reality it discloses.
“...to reconsider the circumstances of the artist’s death. Was it the result of a
premeditated murder and extensive cover up, a self-inflicted injury, or somehow the result of foul play
by villagers who taunted and accidentally wounded the excitable artist? The plausibility of his
narrative will certainly encourage further discussion on the death of the world’s most famous artist. Suspicions of foul play now abound in Arenberg’s historical investigation of van Gogh’s last 70
days in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Anyone interested in truth, accuracy, history, justice, romance, and
art rather than blasphemy should know all the details in this provocative controversy and draw their
own conclusions.” ~ Timothy J. Standring, Curator, Denver Art Museum
“Killing Vincent: The Man, the Myth, and the Murder disproves a common myth about the ‘mad artist,’ Vincent van Gogh, and his ‘suicide,’ making a case for a far different scenario surrounding his death. It’s a combination of true crime and an unsolved romantic murder mystery. It is a psychological probe into history that is a ‘must’ for any reader interested in Vincent’s life and death.
Dr. Arenberg maintains that Vincent wasn’t a depressed and insane individual who shot himself in a
wheat field. Instead, he was not ‘mad.’ Yet, Vincent stumbled to his accommodations, bleeding from
an abdominal wound that killed him. Who created that fatal injury? Did Vincent shoot himself? A
modern forensic analysis confirms that the wound was not self-inflicted; therefore, not suicide, but
murder.
From an in-depth probe into the artist’s psyche, a new diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome emerged. In
addition to progressive, investigative steps into physical evidence, such as the murder weapon, Dr.
Arenberg leaves no stone unturned; whether it be forensic reenactments of the murder and discussions
of the crime scene or examinations of motives and likely perps.
The result is simply an unparalleled ‘must,’ recommended not just for art enthusiasts, but for true crime
and history readers interested in the process of re-examining a homicide cold case and its impact on
modern-day audiences.” ~ Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“This book should be in your library. If you have even a passing interest in van Gogh, you’ll rethink everything you’ve heard before. You’ll learn more about his personal relationships as well as the evidence of his murder. Excellent historical account of the life and death of a fascinating man.” ~ Margene McCollough, Sarasota, Florida
“I got to know the people contemporaneous to Vincent well, as if I were there watching them as they
interacted. Vincent and beloved brother Theo, friend Paul Gauguin, doctor Paul Gachet and son Paul
Jr., and model Adeline all come alive in the pages. Heaps of evidence debunking the suicide theory are
in the book. The author definitely convinced me. I was almost moved to curse those scheming
hypocrites who killed Vincent!
I support Dr. Arenberg’s dogged pursuit of the truth surrounding Vincent’s demise. He perseveres in clearing
Vincent’s name of the stigma of suicide, although many in the art world think it ‘blasphemous’ to say Vincent
did not kill himself” ~ Miriam Molina, www.onlinebookclub.om
