Some of the most prolific artists were not appreciated during their time. In fact, many great artists struggled financially during their lives and would not find success through their work until they had passed away. The following article lists 10 of the most famous artists who died broke. Finding recognition for artistic talents was impossible for most, with many being eccentric, addicts, or ill. Sadly, many of the artists that are celebrated today were not recognized during their lives.
If an artist was lucky to be working, it was usually on something temporary for the church or a wealthy family. While the painting being sold here and there were not uncommon, these works would not find their full financial potential until years after the artist’s passing. Many artists were unable to support themselves let alone a family. Read on to see the 10 most famous artists that died broke. Ironically, the works from these artists now sell for millions and are featured in famous galleries around the world.
The List of the 10 of the Most Famous Artists Who Died Broke
10. Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn
July 15, 1606—October 4, 1669
Rembrandt is known as one of the greatest painters of all time. Born in 1606, the artist played an important part in Dutch art history, with historians crediting him as an essential contributor to the “Dutch Golden Age” of art. He was best known for his portraits, biblical scenes, and was credited with having great empathy for humankind. This helped Rembrandt capture his subjects in a unique way, characteristic of his work. Unfortunately Rembrandt would end up going broke, as his life was full of hardship with his wife dying and his friends deserting him. Rembrandt would die in poverty in 1669.
9. Jean-Honore Fragonard
April 5, 1732—August 22, 1806
Jean-Honore Fragonard was one of the most famous painters of the Rococo period. He was born in Grasse, Provencal in 1732, but his family would move to to France in 1738. There he would be surrounded by the Baroque style, which would greatly influence his work later on. Jean-Honore Fragonard attended the Ecole Royale des Eleves Protégés in Paris, as-well-as the French academy in Rome. He would find some work doing private commissioned work, but never to the level of success his work would find after his death. His work was well-known for its eroticism, complimented by fantasy. Over time, Fragonard was unable to adapt to the “Neo-classical” which had become popular for the time and ended up dying broke in 1806.
8. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
November 24, 1864—September 9, 1901
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is considered one of the great painters of the Post-Impressionist period. He was born in France in 1864 and would end up a close friend of Vincent Van Gogh during his life. Toulouse-Lautrec would focus his paintings on the 1800’s Paris theatrical life. For many, these works would provide an inside peek into the Moulin Rouge. The artist would suffer from many ailments during his life including bone disease, depression, and alcoholism. Unfortunately, Toulouse-Lautrec would die broke in 1901 due to health complications.
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7. Domenikos Theotokopoulos
October 1, 1541—April 7, 1614
Domenikos Theotokopoulos or as he was also known, El Greco, was born in 1541 in Heraklion, Greece. He would go on to study in Rome before moving to Spain, where working for the Spanish royal family, he would create some of his best known works. During this time, he would make a good living as an artist but would end up falling out of favor and his work becoming less desirable. His work would eventually help bring forth the Cubist and Expressionist movements, but during his life he was under-appreciated, and would end up dying broke in 1614 after his work suffered ridicule.
6. Amedeo Modigliani
July 12, 1884—January 24, 1920
Modigliani was an Italian artist who painted and sculpted, spending most of his time in France. He was born in 1884 to a poor, tragic family. Modigliani spent a lot his time partying, drinking, and smoking, living a fast and hard life. Because of his lifestyle, the artist would end up dying of tubercular meningitis by the time he was only 35. His nine-month pregnant wife was so distraught by the news of Modigliani’s death, she would jump to her death the next day. He would become known for his unique portraits and lush nudes after his death, but he would end up dying broke in 1920.
5. Johannes Vermeer
October 31, 1632—December 15, 1675
Johannes Vermeer was born in 1632 in Delft, Netherlands to a working family. He would inherit an inn and art dealing business upon his father’s death, resulting in his desire to become a painter. Vermeer would register as a master painter in the Delft Guild of Saint Luke in 1653, but would never find artistic recognition during his lifetime. The Dutch economy would suffer greatly under French occupation and Vermeer was left in a debt he could never repay. His physical afflictions as well as his mental illness would put further strain on his life, forcing him to borrow money from his family. He would die broke and leave his family in poverty in 1675.
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4. Paul Gauguin
June 7, 1848—May 8, 1903
Paul Gauguin was born in Paris, France in 1848, but spent most of his childhood in Peru. He would grow up to be a successful stockbroker in Paris, but grew tired of the bourgeois materialism surrounding him, and would end up moving to Pont-Aven, Brittany and focusing on his art. His life was rife with tragedy losing both a son and daughter to illness. His work was considered too exotic for the time and not appreciated for its brilliant primitive influences. Gauguin would end up dying of heart failure, alone and broke in 1903.
3. Egon Schiele
June 12, 1890—October 31, 1918
Egon Schiele was born in Austria in 1890. The painter was mentored by Gustav Klimt. His work is noted for its intensity and sexuality, producing many self-portraits. Schiele was one of the earliest exponents of Expressionism. During his life, he and his wife would live in poverty as his work was not appreciated to the level it is today. He would unfortunately pass away from the Spanish Influenza when he was just 28 years old. His wife died three days prior to him in Vienna. Egon would pass away alone and broke in 1918.
2. James Barry
October 11, 1741—February 22, 1806
James Barry was born in Ireland in 1741. He was a self–taught artist and is best known for his series of six paintings, “The Progress of Human Culture”. These were commissioned by the Great Room of the Royal Society of Arts. He was a member of Royal Academy by 1773, where he would teach as a Professor there for over 15 years. James Barry was one of the earliest “romantic” painters in Britain. Although he is now thought of as the most important Irish Neoclassical artist, by the end of his life in 1806, he would die broke.
1. Vincent Van Gogh
March 30, 1853—July 29, 1890
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in 1853, in the Netherlands. He was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. He created about 2,100 artworks of landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and self-portraits during his short life. His works are characterized by bold colors and dramatic, expressive brushwork that serve the foundations of modern art. He was not commercially successful and would only sell one painting during his lifetime. The artist battled mental illness most of his life and would lose, committing suicide at the age of 37. He died broke in 1890.
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