How Much Is Vase of Flowers Worth?

Floral still life is a meaningful thread in Renoir’s practice—central to his exploration of color, light, and touch—but is generally a step below the artist’s most coveted figure compositions and landmark scenes in market stature. Vase of Flowers gains art-historical weight from its mature date (c. 1889), when Renoir had moved beyond his earlier Ingresque phase and re-embraced a softer, atmospheric handling aligned with Impressionist ideals. Within the still-life subset, individual renown depends on pictorial sparkle, compositional richness, and publication history. The work’s presence in a world-class institutional collection signals scholarly recognition, yet as a floral subject of modest scale it remains a mid-tier category relative to Renoir’s canonical masterpieces.

The late 1880s is a favorable period for Renoir still lifes: his brushwork regained luminosity and his palette exhibits a warm, harmonizing glow. Works from this phase often show confident, varied touches across blooms, leaves, and vessel, delivering the sensuous surface quality that collectors prize. If Vase of Flowers displays crisp impasto, balanced chroma (notably in reds, pinks, and greens), and a lively, unlabored touch, these elements strongly reinforce the estimate. Period-appropriate materials and a harmonious overall tonality would put it near the upper part of the range, especially when paired with excellent surface condition and legible, undisturbed passages in the floral heads and background transitions.

At 41.3 × 33 cm, the canvas is materially smaller than the ~65 × 55 cm bouquets that have achieved $3–9 million in recent seasons, so a scale discount is warranted. Size is one of the sharpest price drivers in Renoir still lifes, all else equal. Condition is equally decisive: a clean, well-preserved surface with stable paint layers, no intrusive retouching, and sympathetic varnish supports liquidity and pricing power; conversely, aggressive overcleaning, discoloration, or structural issues (e.g., compromised lining) would depress value. Assuming museum-standard care and attractive surface presentation, condition should be accretive here and helps justify a valuation in the mid‑single‑digit millions despite the modest format.

Long-term residence in the Barnes Foundation confers exceptional provenance and scholarly credibility. Museum-held works benefit from authoritative documentation, conservation oversight, and frequent citation in collection catalogues, strengthening confidence among top-tier buyers. While institutional provenance does not automatically elevate a modest-format floral to the level of large 1870s bouquets, it can add a meaningful premium versus comparable paintings from less distinguished ownership chains. Inclusion in the 2012 Barnes/Yale catalogue and digital collection records enhances traceability and literature presence, both important for underwriting insurance values and private treaty interest. This factor, combined with attractive period and condition, supports the upper half of the proposed range.