Why was Johannes Vermeer poor?

Answer 1

Johannes Vermeer was a successful, talented painter, but was never wealthy because he produced relatively few paintings. He took time and great care in his paintings, and was best-known for his treatment of light in his work. He died, leaving his wife and children broke.

Answer 2

Van Gogh pursued a career as pastor (which, as you can imagine, did not pay well). After this he became a career painter and, although he is very well-respected now and his works sell for millions, he only sold one painting during his lifetime which was to a friend of his. Van Gogh lived on the money (fifty francs a month) that his brother, Theodore Vang Gogh the art dealer, provided him with.