| By :
Martin Hofschroer
Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh has had a huge influence on the art career of Rolf Harris. The Australian entertainer revealed that as a schoolboy he was initially unimpressed by Van Gogh's artistic style but would later be inspired by the Dutchman's use of vivid colors. He told the BBC: "Now I see the Van Gogh stuff and think I wish I could paint and draw like that, I wish I had that strength that Van Gogh showed." Harris went onto paint a self-portrait in the style of Van Gogh for his successful television series Rolf on Art, which is still the most watched art show in the history of British broadcasting. The octogenarian has fortunately enjoyed a more lucrative career than the tragic Van Gogh as Rolf Harris prints are regularly sold to art enthusiasts while the Dutchman only sold one painting in his whole life. Vincent Van Gogh paintings became immensely popular following his death in 1890 at the age of 37 as in 1990 his Portrait of Dr. Gachet fetched $82.5 million at auction in Christie's, New York. The winning bidder Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito has reportedly wanted to have the painting cremated with him when he died but the portrait still exists today despite the passing of Saito in 1996. Harris imitated the methods and techniques of a variety of art masters during his series and such is the skill of the Australian that a survey stated that one in 14 people thought that Rolf is responsible for Monet's waterlilies. Rolf on Art saw Harris experience the privilege of going to Delft to paint Vermeer's The Girl with the Pearl Earring, visiting Rembrandt's studio and actually working with Rodin's tools. He told Enough Rope, an Australian television interview show: "It was absolutely thrilling. Thrilling. Especially the Rembrandt one. You know, to go there and to be surrounded by all these etchings in that museum there." Rolf is famous for his many talents and it was recently reported that he could be following in the footsteps of Metallica, Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden by appearing at Sonisphere Festival in the future. Sonisphere co-founder Stuart Galbraith told a press conference: "I want Rolf Harris here! I'm serious. I want to see a circle pit to Two Little Boys." Rolf is no stranger to rock music having regularly appeared at Glastonbury festival and playing covers of the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven.
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