Paul Gauguin

Mette Gauguin, France (possibly)
Ambroise Vollard, Paris (possibly acquired from the above on May 8, 1907) 
Gilbert Kahn, New York (acquired by 1950)
Private Collection, New York
Acquired from the above circa the 1980s

Daniel Wildenstein, Gauguin. Premier itinéraire d'un sauvage. Catalogue de l'oeuvre peint (1873-1888), vol. I, Paris, 2001, no. 172, illustrated p. 205

The painting is in very good condition. The canvas has been relined. When examined under UV light, there is some evidence of scattered retouching to the pigment throughout the background. Minor surface dirt, otherwise fine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Fleurs d'été dans un gobelet is an early example of Gauguin's still lifes, displaying a strong palette and a lush treatment of the flowers that herald the main preoccupations of his later career. It was painted during the artist's stay in Copenhagen, where he arrived in November 1884 to join his wife Mette and their five children. Soon after settling down in Copenhagen, Gauguin wrote a letter to Pissarro, expressing both his delight at the new beautiful subjects his surroundings offered as well as his fury at not being able to paint outdoors due to freezing weather. It was partly due to his confinement indoors that Gauguin turned to the subject of still life. 

The present work exemplifies an important shift that took place in the artist's painting during this period, as he gradually moved away from the Impressionist style to embrace a radically new direction in art. With its rich tones applied in quick, diagonal brushstrokes, Fleurs d'été dans un gobelet finds precedent not only in the style of Cézanne, but also in the painting of van Gogh. The uncomplicated subject matter of still life, with its historical foundation in the Barbizon school, allowed Gauguin the platform to fully explore the possibilities of modern techniques in painting.