Andries Bonger

Andries Bonger (20 May 1861 20 January 1936), nicknamed "Dries", was Johanna van Gogh-Bonger's favorite brother. Bonger was a friend of his future brother-in-law Theo van Gogh in Paris. It was through Andries that Johanna and Theo met. He also knew Vincent van Gogh who called him André in letters.[1]

<gallery "widths"=160"> File:Johanna Bonger.jpeg|Johan Cohen Gosschalk, Johanna Bonger, 1905 File:Theo van Gogh (1888).png|Theo van Gogh in 1888 File:VanGogh 1887 Selbstbildnis.jpg|Vincent van Gogh, self-portrait in 1887 </gallery>

In a letter that Bonger wrote to his parents on March 31, 1885, he describes [Theo] van Gogh as having received unexpected news the prior week that his father had died due to a "stroke of apoplexy" after having received a letter the previous day that he was in perfect health. He mentioned that Van Gogh was not very strong, and so this was a very melancholy circumstance. In several letters over the remainder of the year, Bonger comments on a growing appreciation for and friendship with Theo.[2]

Vincent van Gogh arrived in Paris in 1886 which meant that Bonger saw less of Theo. Bonger expressed his concern that Vincent van Gogh was harsh with his brother Theo, who had begun to look haggard. Theo met Bonger's parents during a visit to the Netherlands about August, 1886.[3]

Bonger went into the insurance business later in Amsterdam. He was an intimate friend of Bertrand-Jean Redon, better known as Odilon Redon, and owned a large collection of his works. His collection also included works by Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne and Émile Bernard, whom he knew well.[1] He is buried at Zorgvlied cemetery.

References

  1. 1 2 Harrison, R, ed. (2011). "Memoir of Johanna Gesina van Gogh-Bonger". Van Gogh Letters. WebExhibits. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  2. Harrison, R, ed. (2011). "Letter from Andries Bonger to His Parents, Paris, 1885". Van Gogh Letters. WebExhibits. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  3. Harrison, R, ed. (2011). "Andreis Bonger. Letter to His Parents. Written 1886 in Paris.". Van Gogh Letters. WebExhibits. Retrieved 2011-04-29.


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