Sale: Weschler's Auctioneers & Appraisers, Washington, D.C., May 22, 1999, lot 129
Acquired at the above sale

Françoise Gilot, Françoise Gilot, Monograph 1940-2000, Lausanne, 2000, illustrated in color p. 26

The canvas is not lined. There is some paint shrinkage to the impasto, mostly in the orange pigments. There are some lines of circular craquelure to the left of the vase. There are a few flecks of paint loss, notably to the olive green in the lower left and a few places elsewhere. Under UV light there are no apparent signs of retouching.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

During the early 1960s, Gilot returned frequently to London to visit Kew Gardens, enchanted by the quality of the muted light filtering through the paint-washed glass of the greenhouses there. Paintings of flowers remain an important leitmotif in Gilot's work, as a sort of homage to her father, who was a noted agronomist. Furthermore, Little Sunflowers is an homage to van Gogh, one of the painters of the previous generation whom Gilot most admired for his bold use of color to create form. 

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Françoise Gilot and it is registered in the artist’s archives.