By Cy Twombly
Located in New York, NY
Cy Twombly
Earle and Carolyn Brown at the Stevenson's in Brewster, 1955
Identified and inscribed on the reverse by the sitter Carolyn Brown
Photograph on paper
8 x 8 inches
Provenance
Gift of the artist
Estate of Carolyn Brown, New York 2025.
Cy Twombly gained fame for his art that combined cultural, historical, and poetic elements—particularly those from classical antiquity—with abstract shapes and his distinctive script. Born Edwin Parker Twombly, Jr. on April 25, 1928, in Lexington, Virginia, he began his artistic journey under the guidance of Pierre Daura and Marion Junkin at Washington and Lee University. This initial training was complemented by his formative experiences at the Arts Students League of New York and Black Mountain College, where he established enduring friendships with influential figures like Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Merce Cunningham.
A pivotal moment for Twombly was his 1952 trip to Italy and North Africa with Rauschenberg, funded by a grant from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This journey allowed Twombly to engage deeply with the rich cultural history that would inform his future artistic endeavors, leading to the creation of significant early pieces.
Twombly made his way back to Italy in 1957 and 1958, during which he presented his first solo exhibition in Italy at Galleria La Tartaruga, owned by Plinio De Martiis. In 1959, he married Luisa Tatiana...
Category
1950s Modern Paper Black and White Photography
MaterialsPhotographic Paper
