One of four spring flower bouquets, these were the only still lifes of note painted during his asylum stay: two of irises, two of roses, in contrasting colour schemes and formats. 

In this piece, he sought a soft and harmonious effect - placing the “violet” flowers against a “pink background,” which have since faded.

A Post-Impressionist Dutch painter, Van Gogh is one of the most influential painters in Western art history.

He is estimated to have produced over 2000 art works, including around 860 oil paintings in his short career – most of which in the final two years of his life.

He became famous after his suicide aged 37, having suffered from mental illness and poverty for many years. On 27 July 1890, Van Gogh is believed to have shot himself in the chest with a revolver, dying from his injuries two days later.

Oil on canvas