Vincent van Gogh’s landscape masterpiece is one of the most recognizable paintings in history. Created during a turbulent period in his life, this artwork continues to captivate millions.
This quiz looks at the history behind its creation. You will see questions about the specific location where it was painted, the celestial bodies depicted, and how museums acquired it.
When you finish, you can learn more about famous artists, look into painting techniques, or check out museums and galleries.
Who is the post-impressionist painter responsible for creating ‘The Starry Night’?
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Claude Monet
Claude Monet
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
In which town was the asylum located where van Gogh painted ‘The Starry Night’?
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Arles, France
Arles, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
In which city is ‘The Starry Night’ currently permanently housed?
London
London
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
New York City
New York City
Paris
Paris
What medium was used to create ‘The Starry Night’?
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Acrylic on wood
Acrylic on wood
Fresco on plaster
Fresco on plaster
Watercolor on paper
Watercolor on paper
In what year was ‘The Starry Night’ completed?
1879
1879
1899
1899
1909
1909
1889
1889
Which institution acquired ‘The Starry Night’ in 1941?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum
‘The Starry Night’ depicts a view of what scene?
A view from his bedroom window
A view from his bedroom window
A view of the local town square
A view of the local town square
A field of wheat
A field of wheat
A dream he had at night
A dream he had at night
What prominent architectural feature stands in the center of the village depicted in the painting?
A church steeple
A church steeple
A windmill tower
A windmill tower
A lighthouse beam
A lighthouse beam
A castle turret
A castle turret
Approximately how long after arriving at the asylum did van Gogh paint ‘The Starry Night’?
1 month
1 month
2 months
2 months
3 months
3 months
2 weeks
2 weeks
‘The Starry Night’ is a quintessential example of which art movement?
Impressionism
Impressionism
Cubism
Cubism
Post-Impressionism
Post-Impressionism
Surrealism
Surrealism
Which large, dark, flame-like structure dominates the foreground of the painting?
Oak tree
Oak tree
Cypress tree
Cypress tree
Pine tree
Pine tree
Olive tree
Olive tree
Astronomers believe the brightest white star-like object in the painting likely represents which planet?
Saturn
Saturn
Venus
Venus
Jupiter
Jupiter
Mars
Mars
What term describes the thick, textured application of paint used by van Gogh in ‘The Starry Night’?
Impasto technique
Impasto technique
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro
Pointillism
Pointillism
Sfumato
Sfumato
How did van Gogh incorporate the village into the painting if his window faced the hills?
He painted it during the daytime, memory-based.
He painted it during the daytime, memory-based.
He painted it while looking over the asylum’s rooftop.
He painted it while looking over the asylum’s rooftop.
He added the village from imagination and sketches of the region.
He added the village from imagination and sketches of the region.
The asylum wall was high, so he could only see the sky.
The asylum wall was high, so he could only see the sky.
In what year did The Museum of Modern Art first acquire ‘The Starry Night’?
1951
1951
1936
1936
1941
1941
1946
1946
Recent scientific research suggests that the swirls in ‘The Starry Night’ mathematically mirror what physical phenomenon?
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Turbulence in fluid dynamics
Turbulence in fluid dynamics
Acoustic resonance
Acoustic resonance
Gravitational lensing
Gravitational lensing
Where was Vincent van Gogh forbidden from painting while staying at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum?
The asylum’s gardens
The asylum’s gardens
The hospital chapel
The hospital chapel
His bedroom
His bedroom
The ground-floor studio
The ground-floor studio
What does the dark, looming cypress tree in the foreground of the painting primarily symbolize?
Scientific discovery
Scientific discovery
Industrial progress
Industrial progress
Death and mourning
Death and mourning
Royal wealth
Royal wealth
How did Vincent van Gogh characterize ‘The Starry Night’ in his personal correspondence?
He claimed it was painted by someone else
He claimed it was painted by someone else
He considered it his absolute masterpiece
He considered it his absolute masterpiece
He thought it was a failure
He thought it was a failure
He believed it would make him wealthy
He believed it would make him wealthy
Which mountain range is depicted in the background of ‘The Starry Night’?
The Pyrenees
The Pyrenees
The Vosges
The Vosges
The Alps
The Alps
The Alpilles
The Alpilles
Which of the following best describes the artistic interpretation of the sky in Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’?
A strict observation of the stars that night
A strict observation of the stars that night
A heightened vision of his mental state
A heightened vision of his mental state
A specific celestial event like an eclipse
A specific celestial event like an eclipse
The reflection of the stars in the Rhône river
The reflection of the stars in the Rhône river
‘The Starry Night’ entered the collection of MoMA through which major acquisition?
Purchase by a private benefactor for the museum
Purchase by a private benefactor for the museum
Lillie P. Bliss bequest
Lillie P. Bliss bequest
Direct donation from the Van Gogh estate
Direct donation from the Van Gogh estate
Gift from the French government in the 1940s
Gift from the French government in the 1940s
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If you enjoyed this, check out our trivia on other masterpieces. You can also study symbols in art or view mountains and landscapes.
