A Dutch painter (self portrait above) who is as well known for his art as for his troubled life. He cut off part of his ear in 1888 in a fit of depression and spent a year in asylum. He continued to suffer from severe depression and eventually committed suicide. In his life time, he only managed to sell only one painting yet in 1988 his painting the "irises" (right) was sold at Christie's for $49 millions. His other famous works include the sunflower series and the "starry night" (1889) which showed halos around the stars.