His early life seems generally to be unhappy, after a period of working in his uncle’s art dealers, he became frustrated and so became a Protestant minister. He became a preacher in the poor agricultural districts of Brabant. He empathised with the poverty of the inhabitants and began to share their poverty and rough living conditions. Despite trying to live according to the gospel message of poverty, the church authorities were displeased that Van Gogh seemed to be undermining the ‘dignity of the priesthood.’ He was relieved of his post and Van Gogh turned to art. Despite always disliking any formal training, he studied art in both Brussels and Paris. He began painting seriously, and in Paris was influenced by the new impressionist painters of Monet, Renoir and others. Financially helped by his close brother Theo, Van Gogh later travelled to Arles in the south of France were he continued his painting – often outside – another feature of the impressionist movement.