Van Gogh’s sunflowers painting to be shown with British art it inspired at Tate exhibition

One of Vincent Van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers paintings is to be shown alongside the British artworks it inspired in an upcoming exhibition at Tate Britain.

The painting, which will be on rare loan from the National Gallery, will be exhibited with works by British artists in Van Gogh and Britain, which opens in March of next year.

The show will display the 1888 painting alongside works by Jacob Epstein, Frank Brangwyn, Matthew Smith and David Bomberg, all of whom included bright yellow flowers in their work after Van Gogh produced the still life. Curators believe that the work encouraged a revitalisation of British flower painting.

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers first became part of the national collection when Tate Gallery acquired it in 1924 from the artist’s sister-in-law Johanna van Gogh-Bonger. A letter from her will go on display in the exhibition, detailing how she initially “could not bear to separate from the picture”.

The exhibition will also explore the links between the post-impressionist artist and Britain, as well as the influence Van Gogh had on its artists.

British artists who will also feature in the exhibition include Vanessa Bell, Francis Bacon and William Nicholson.

The EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain will run at Tate Britain from March 29 - August 11 2019. For more information, visit tate.org.uk