Gratitude to Theo

If it wasn't for the brother of Vincent van Gogh, we would not have this lovely and extremely famous image called "The Starry Night." We don't always realize what the art patron does for the artist. I know in my own work, I still need encouragement even after all the years I've been painting. Every so often, someone says something so ignorant or insensitive and I just want to throw down my paintbrush and say, "what's the use?"
I'm sure Vincent felt that way many times. We have all heard of the many struggles this poor man suffered all his life and yet painting was the one thing that calmed his tortured soul. This is why the brother of this great artist means so much to our world. We forget how much he did for his Vincent. We forget that Theo was a great art dealer and had a great eye for fine art. Without these great patrons, there would be no great artists. Even the Italian Renaissance would not have existed without its patrons. I would love to see a day when the patrons towards the arts are abundant like it was in the time of the Renaissance masters.
Vincent van Gogh did not have the Renaissance environment in his time. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a country to raise a great artist. Without the great patrons to the arts, the artist suffers. Vincent had his brother's best wishes and somehow this one person was enough to keep him going. That's amazing if we think about it. How many times have you become discouraged with your own work? We all need a Theo.