Bouquet of Sunflowers (B bouquet de tournesols)
Painting on canvas • Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926)
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; Impressionist technique involving broken brushstrokes, impasto for texture on the flower heads, and wet-on-wet application (alla prima) to capture light and movement.
Creation Period
1881
Dimensions & Format
101 x 81.3 cm (39 3/4 x 32 in.); vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A vibrant still life depicting a dense arrangement of sunflowers in a blue and white ceramic vase, placed on a red tablecloth. The composition is dynamic, with flowers reaching toward the edges of the frame, set against a shimmering, atmospheric background of lavender and gray tones.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; visually stable with well-preserved impasto and vibrant color saturation consistent with museum-grade maintenance.
Estimated Market Value
$40,000,000 - $60,000,000 USD (based on rarity and importance of Monet still lifes)
Auction Estimate
$35,000,000 - $55,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Purchased by Durand-Ruel from the artist in 1882; later acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (H. O. Havemeyer Collection).
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of Monet's still life oeuvre, this work was a precursor to Van Gogh's later sunflower series. It was shown at the seventh Impressionist exhibition in 1882 and represents Monet's ability to apply plein-air light techniques to traditional studio subjects.
Notable Features
Housed in an ornate, period-appropriate Louis XV style carved and gilded wood frame; features a blue and white Chinoiserie-style vase often seen in Monet's domestic settings.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure is likely present but stable; minor frame abrasions at the extreme edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain controlled humidity (50% RH) and temperature; UV-filtered lighting; periodic professional monitoring of the canvas tension and varnish layer.