Robert Rauschenberg

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in April 1998 

This work is in very good condition overall. There is very light evidence of handling along the edges including a minuscule pinpoint loss at the lower right corner. The colors are bright, fresh and clean. All surface inconsistencies appear consistent to the artist’s method of production and intent. Under very close inspection there is a pinpoint yellow spot accretion along the left edge just below center. Under Ultraviolet light inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Framed.
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.

"I asked Rauschenberg how he felt about winning the Biennale (I was working on a New Yorker profile of him at the time, and had come to Venice partly in anticipation of his victory). He thought for a minute, concentrating hard on the banal question. 'That scene in San Marco yesterday really got to me,' he said. 'Butterflies in the stomach and a lump in the throat like—like it really did mean something after all.'"

Calvin Tomkins, Off the Wall: A Portrait of Robert Rauschenberg, New York 2005, p. 11