Which of Van Gogh’s sunflowers is the fourth version?

In August 1888 Vincent van Gogh painted 4 versions of his sunflowers series:
 

• First version: Three Sunflowers in a Vase, private collection
• Second version: Vase with 5 Sunflowers, destroyed
• Third version: Vase with 12 Sunflowers, Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany
• Fourth version: Vase with 15 Sunflowers, National Gallery, London

And in January 1889 Van Gogh copied the fourth version 3 times:
 

• First copy: Vase with 12 Sunflowers, Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Second copy: Vase with 15 Sunflowers, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
• Third copy: Vase with 15 Sunflowers, Sompo Japan Museum of Art, Tokyo

Today 133 years ago, on 24 August 1888,

Vincent van Gogh wrote to Theo from Arles:

"I’m now on the fourth painting of sunflowers. This fourth one is a bouquet of 14 flowers and is on a yellow background..”

According to Louis van Tilborgh & Ella Hendriks Van Gogh added the small bloom at lower left later – this explains why he refers here to ‘14 flowers’.

Vase with 15 Sunflowers
Arles, 1888
Oil on canvas
92,1 x 73 cm
National Gallery of London

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• FREE Van Gogh e-book

Hand-painted reproduction of Van Gogh's fourth version of his Sunflowers.

Your daily dose of Van Gogh.

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