It has often been interpreted as a sign of his tortured genius, evidence of his mental illness or the final result of a heated row with fellow artist Paul Gauguin.

But the dramatic decision of Vincent van Gogh to chop off his own ear may in fact have a more simple explanation, a historian has found: learning of his brother’s engagement.

New research suggests Van Gogh had learned of his brother Theo’s engagement on the day he decided to cut his own ear, December 23, 1888.

Experts now believe it led to him fearing he would be left alone and penniless, losing the fraternal financial support which had allowed Van Gogh to devote his life to art.

Martin Bailey, the art historian, said the news was likely to have heightened Van Gogh’s distressed state and “sparked off” the “destructive act” of self-mutilation.