London, Oct 9 : A painting believed to be Van Gogh’s final masterpiece is expected to fetch 17 million pounds when it is auctioned in New York next month.

The painting went on show in London on Oct 8.

Van Gogh completed his work ‘The Fields’ on 10 July 1890, just 19 days before his death.

The artist, who was battling depression at the time, walked into a field on 27 July 1890, at the age of 37, and shot himself in the chest with a revolver. Without realizing that he was fatally wounded he returned to the Ravoux Inn where he died in his bed two days later.

The work has been in private hands ever since, and has been in Britain only once.

David Norman, the executive vice-president at Sotheby's said that the painting shows none of the depression that caused the painter to commit suicide just a few days later.

"Here is an artist literally on the verge of taking his life and filled with tremendous despondency, yet he is still painting with lemon yellows, azure blues and emerald greens," The Telegraph quoted Mr Norman, as saying.

"We know this is a man barely holding on to his will to live, yet he is able to separate his energy and focus on what he sees before him."

Van Gogh's brother, Theo, was so emotionally attached to the painting that he kept it in the family collection for 20 years before his widow, Johanna, finally sold it to a private collector, Paul Cassirer, in 1907.

Since then, it has remained in private collections, exchanging hands between collectors privately but never entering the public market. (ANI)