Vincent

What could be more tragic than living a penniless existence, being driven to despair to the extent that you slice off your ear, all your efforts are laughed at and derided, and then post-humously celebrated.

It is a measure of just how flip society is (at a particular moment in time) that today Vincent van Gogh is celebrated for drawings [that] include some of the world's best known, most popular and most expensive pieces.*

Before his suicide at age 37 the Dutch artist had sold only one of his pieces. He described the painting of it thus:
"... we saw a red vineyard, all red like red wine. In the distance it turned to yellow, and then a green sky with the sun, the earth after the rain violet, sparkling yellow here and there where it caught the reflection of the setting sun."
The painting Red Vineyard at Arles (pictured below) was sold for 400 French francs (about R670).

Vincent's suicide was also tragic for a variety of reasons. He walked into a field and shot himself in the chest, but died only two days later, not realising that the wound was fatal. One could argue it was not an intentional suicide. His brother - who shared a very close bond and had supported Vincent financially throughout his life - could not get over his brother's death and died 6 months later.

Vincent's last words: "the sadness will last forever". Van Gogh is probably the artist that has inspired my brother (a professional artist) most.

*Quoted from Wiki.