Crown Imperials in a Copper Vase (Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase)
Painting on canvas • Vincent van Gogh
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism (Paris Period)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas using a Pointillist-influenced Post-Impressionist technique; features impasto, rhythmic brushstrokes, and complementary color juxtaposition.
Creation Period
1887
Dimensions & Format
73.5 x 60.5 cm; Portrait format
Subject Description
A vibrant arrangement of orange crown imperial fritillaries in a rounded copper vase, set against a stippled blue and yellow background. The composition uses complementary colors (orange/blue) to create visual vibration.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a major museum collection with stable pigment and structural integrity.
Estimated Market Value
$80,000,000 - $120,000,000 USD (Theoretical based on high-tier Van Gogh floral still lifes)
Auction Estimate
$70,000,000 - $100,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of Theo van Gogh; inherited by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger; currently in the permanent collection of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris (donated in 1951).
Art Historical Significance
A pivotal work from Van Gogh's Paris period (1886-1888) showing his transition from dark Dutch tones to bright Impressionist/Neo-Impressionist palettes and his experimentation with Seurat's color theories.
Notable Features
Distinctive stippled background that demonstrates the influence of Paul Signac and Georges Seurat; highly textured impasto on the flower petals and copper vessel.
Condition Issues
Minor historical craquelure consistent with age; some slight darkening of the original chrome yellows over several decades, though largely mitigated by museum climate control.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled UV-filtered lighting and stable relative humidity; periodically monitor for localized varnish yellowing.