Mystery of van Gogh's missing ear 'solved'

Now, the mystery behind the most famous mutilation in art history seems to have finally been solved, after a scholar has found evidence that van Gogh slashed his ear after he came to know his beloved brother Theo was about to get married.

Martin Bailey has devised his theory after meticulous detective work on a letter in a painting that the Dutch artist completed soon after he injured himself, The Sunday Times reported. Bailey has concluded that this letter was written by Theo from Paris in December 1888 and contained the news of his engagement. This tipped Gogh, who was psychologically disturbed, into self-harm.