In reply to:

In my youth "Van Go" was a pet peave but now I've grown up I'm not so sure, perhaps I've mellowed!

I'm not sure I'm peeved by this pronounciation or not. Just know that for most Americans it is what we can manage to spit out. If I pronounce Van Gogh with a soft German/Dutch "ch" at the end I'm looked upon as an elitist snob. So, when in Rome... (Yes, yes, I know, what do I care what they think.....)