CY TWOMBLY, Untitled, from the Collection of Ileana Sonnabend and the Estate of Nina Castelli, 1973

Historic provenance! From the collection of legendary art dealer Ileana Sonnabend - wife of Leo Castelli. Rarely to market, this classic Cy Twombly screenprint and lithograph in colors on rag paper, was created in 1973 for the legendary "New York for Stockholm" portfolio. Born in Lexington, Virginia, Cy Twombly (1928) belongs to the post-Abstract Expressionist generation. He moved to New York in the early 1950s to attend the Art Students League, where he met artist Robert Rauschenberg, who encouraged him to attend the Black Mountain College, then at the height of its influence. Inspired by the faculty and fellow students at these two institutions, Twombly’s early works draw on a gestural abstraction similar to Franz Kline’s, but he quickly developed a personal graffiti-like style laden with references to literature. In 1957, after traveling around Europe, a stint the army, and briefly living in New York, Twombly settled permanently in Italy, which strengthened his engagement with classical literature, history, and mythology.  He became most famous for his large-scale scribbled graffiti paintings, which blur the line between drawing and painting. Twombly passed away on July 5, 2011 at age 83. 

This print is in the permanent collections of major museums and public institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Moderna Museet, the Walker Art Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Dayton Art Institute, the Frost Art Museum,the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, the Pierpoint Morgan Library, and the Albertina Museum, the Kempner Art Museum - to name only a few. Fully referenced in the catalogue raisonne of Twombly's works on paper by Heiner Bastian.  Mint condition; never framed. Comes in the original portfolio sleeve of Cranes Bond extra No. 1. This is the first time it will be removed from the original mahogany portfolio box which housed the entire portfolio in the Sonnabend/Castelli collection. Many works from this portfolio are already in the permanent collections of most major museums and public institutions worldwide. Very rare in such fine condition with such impressive provenance.  

Catalogue Raisonné: Heiner Bastian, 38, Heiner Bastian, 38 

SIGNATURE

Signed and dated '73 and numbered 158/300 in graphite pencil verso Printed text verso states "Copyright 1973 by Cy Twombly Printed at Styria Studios"

PROVENANCE

Collection of Ileana Sonabend (wife of legendary dealer Leo Castelli, and pioneering art dealer in her own right) and the Estate of their daughter Nina Castelli Sundell.

 EXHIBITION HISTORY

Leo Castelli exhibition of New York for Stockholm Portfolio to benefit Moderna Museet

Other editions:

Walker Art Center Leo Castelli Gallery Brooklyn Museum Pop Impressions Europe/USA, Museum of Modern Art and dozens of other venues

 LITERATURE

Catalogue Raisonné: Heiner Bastian, 38, Heiner Bastian, 38