Cy Twombly

Galleria Gian Enzo Sperone, Rome
The Lone Star Foundation, Inc., New York (acquired from the above in March 1979)
Acquired by the present owner from the above in August 1980

Rome, Galleria Sperone, Cy Twombly, November – December 1976
New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, Cy Twombly: Paintings and Drawings 1954-1977, April – June 1979, cat. no. 44, p. 69, illustrated in color (as Untitled)
Newport Beach, Newport Harbor Art Museum; Madison, Elvehjem Museum of Art; Richmond, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario, Cy Twombly: Works on Paper 1954-1976, October 1981 – October 1982, cat. no. 32, pp. 77-81, illustrated (titled Idilli. (I am Thyrsis of Etna blessed with a tuneful voice))
Houston, The Menil Collection; Des Moines, Des Moines Art Center, Cy Twombly, September 1989 – June 1990, cat. no. 24, n.p., illustrated in color

Yvon Lambert, Catalogue raisonné des oeuvres sur papier de Cy Twombly, Volume VI 1973-1976, Milan, 1979, cat. no. 197, p. 181, illustrated (titled Idilli. (I am Thyrsis of Etna blessed with a tuneful voice))
Howard J. Smagula, Currents: Contemporary Directions in the Visual Arts, Upper Saddle River, 1983, pp. 86-7, illustrated (as Untitled), and p. 85 (text)

This work is in excellent condition. Each sheet is mounted at intervals to ragboard: the large sheet is framed in a dark brown wooden frame under Plexiglas, and the two smaller sheets are in lighter brown wood frames under Plexiglas. There are very light handling marks to the edges and some minor undulation in a few places to all the sheets, consistent with the nature of the medium and the artist's working process. Left: The large sheet exhibits slight buckling at the bottom edge, particularly toward the bottom right corner. Under close inspection, creases from handling may be noted in the upper right corner and along the left edge, located up from the lower left corner at 3 ½ to 4 ¼", 33 ½ to 36 ¾" and 43 ¾ to 44 ½"; the latter has a small ½" tear at the edge. Staple holes dating from the time of execution are present at all four corners. Very close inspection reveals a small number of very minute spots of foxing. A 26 x 20" sheet of paper is mounted to the larger sheet with five pieces of clear tape along the top, left, and right edges. The water stain at the lower edge of this sheet dates from the artist's studio. Center: The sheet contains a few scattered nodules of paint that may have flattened slightly from previous contact with Plexiglas. Right: The paper sheet is very slightly skinned in a 1/8" area on the bottom edge to the right of center.
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.