Theodorus van Gogh, better known as Theo, was a Dutch art dealer and the younger brother of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh. Theo supported his brother financially and emotionally throughout his life, and owned most of his artworks at the time of his death. But how did Theo die, and what was his cause of death?
The Symptoms of Syphilis
According to Wikipedia, Theo died on 25 January 1891, six months after Vincent’s death, at the age of 33. His cause of death was dementia paralytica, a disease of the brain that is caused by syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can be spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, or from mother to child during pregnancy. If left untreated, syphilis can damage various organs, including the heart, brain, and spinal cord.
Syphilis has four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The primary stage is characterized by painless sores or ulcers on the genitals, mouth, or anus. The secondary stage involves a rash on the skin, mucous membranes, or palms and soles, as well as fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The latent stage has no symptoms, but the bacteria can remain dormant in the body for years. The tertiary stage is the most serious and can occur 10 to 30 years after the initial infection. It can affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system, bones, skin, eyes, and other organs.
Theo most likely contracted syphilis in his early twenties, when he was working as an art dealer in Paris. He may have been exposed to the infection through sexual intercourse with prostitutes or other partners. He may not have noticed or treated the symptoms in the primary and secondary stages, or he may have received inadequate treatment that did not cure the infection completely.
The Effects of Dementia Paralytica
Dementia paralytica is a form of neurosyphilis, which is a complication of tertiary syphilis that affects the brain and spinal cord. It causes progressive mental deterioration, personality changes, memory loss, delusions, hallucinations, and paralysis. It can also cause seizures, strokes, blindness, deafness, and death.
Theo began to show signs of dementia paralytica in 1890, after Vincent’s death. He suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations. He became paranoid and delusional about his wife Johanna and his son Vincent Willem. He also developed physical symptoms such as tremors, weakness, and difficulty speaking and walking.
Theo was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Utrecht in October 1890. He spent the last three months of his life there, under the care of Dr. W.C. Schönfeld Wichers. He died on 25 January 1891 from a stroke caused by syphilis. His wife Johanna was with him when he died.
The Legacy of Theo van Gogh
Theo van Gogh was not only Vincent’s brother but also his best friend and confidant. They exchanged over 600 letters during their lifetime, which reveal their close bond and mutual admiration. Theo encouraged Vincent to pursue his artistic career and provided him with financial support and artistic advice. He also introduced him to many influential artists and art dealers in Paris.
Theo was also an important figure in the art world as an art dealer. He worked for Goupil & Cie (later Boussod Valadon & Cie), one of the leading art firms in Europe at the time. He played a crucial role in promoting contemporary French art to the public. He represented artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Seurat.
Theo owned most of Vincent’s artworks at the time of his death. His widow Johanna inherited them and devoted herself to preserving and promoting Vincent’s legacy. She organized exhibitions of his paintings and drawings in various countries and published his letters with her annotations. She also reburied Theo’s remains next to Vincent’s in Auvers-sur-Oise in 1914.
Theo van Gogh was a remarkable man who lived a short but meaningful life. He died from a disease that was common but incurable at his time. His cause of death was syphilis-related dementia paralytica. His memory lives on through his brother’s artworks and letters that he helped preserve for posterity.
