Sunflowers
Vincent van Gogh · 1888
Oil on canvas
Quick answer
Sunflowers (1888) by Vincent van Gogh is in The National Gallery, London. Sunflowers is a series of still-life paintings by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, created between 1887 and 1889 in Paris and Arles, France. The most celebrated version — depicting 15 sunflowers in a yellow vase — is displayed at the National Gallery in London. Van Gogh painted the Arles series in preparation for the arrival of his friend Paul Gauguin, intending them to decorate the 'Yellow House' where he lived. Versions of Sunflowers are among the most valuable and most reproduced artworks in existence. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sunflowers by Van Gogh?
Multiple versions exist. The most famous — 15 sunflowers in a yellow vase — is in Room 43 of the National Gallery in London. Another is at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Others are at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich and the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo. A version is also in a private collection (sold in 1987 for £22.5 million).
Why did Van Gogh paint Sunflowers?
Van Gogh painted the Arles series of Sunflowers in the summer of 1888 to decorate the guest bedroom of the Yellow House (his rented home in Arles) before the arrival of his friend Paul Gauguin. He wrote to Theo that he wanted to fill the house with colour and light to welcome his friend. The friendship ended catastrophically in December 1888.
Was Van Gogh's Sunflowers attacked?
Yes — on 14 October 2022, two climate protesters from the group Just Stop Oil threw tomato soup at the Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in London. The painting was protected by its glass case and was entirely undamaged. The incident generated enormous global media coverage. The two protesters were later convicted and sentenced to community service.
How much did Sunflowers sell for?
In 1987, the version now at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo sold at Christie's London for £22.5 million ($39.9 million) — a world record at the time. It was purchased by Japanese insurance company Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance. The purchase caused controversy, with critics questioning whether private companies should hold such works.
How many versions of Sunflowers did Van Gogh paint?
Van Gogh painted at least 11 Sunflowers paintings in total: four in Paris in 1887 (depicting sunflowers lying flat, not in vases) and seven in Arles in 1888–1889 (the vase versions). He also made authorised repetitions of some Arles versions. The National Gallery version (F458) depicts 15 sunflowers against a yellow background — one of two near-identical versions, the other in Munich.