Galleria Sperone, Rome
The Lone Star Foundation, Inc., New York (acquired from the above in July 1977)
Acquired by the present owner from the above in August 1980

Rome, Galleria Sperone, Cy Twombly, November – December 1976 
Houston, The Menil Collection; Des Moines, Des Moines Art Center, Cy Twombly, September 1989 – June 1990, cat. no. 25, n.p., illustrated in color

Yvon Lambert, Catalogue raisonné des oeuvres sur papier de Cy Twombly, Volume VI 1973-1976, Milan, 1979, cat. no. 203, p. 184, illustrated 

This lot, consisting of two framed works on paper, is in excellent condition. Both sheets are mounted at intervals to ragboard. The large sheet is framed in a dark brown wood frame under Plexiglas, and the smaller sheet is framed in a lighter brown wood frame under Plexiglas. There are very light handling marks to the edges and some minor undulation in a few places to the sheets, consistent with the nature of the medium and the artist's working process. The larger sheet exhibits overall rippling and puckering throughout primarily associated with the application of acrylic recto and verso. There is a small loss to the paper at the lower left corner from tacking at the time of execution. The 30 x 22" sheet of the secondary drawing is attached to the larger sheet with clear adhesive tape at all corners and at the center of the top, left and right edges. There are scattered oil stains from the artist's studio to the left, right, and below the secondary drawing. Approximately five scattered nodules of paint have flattened slightly due to contact with the Plexiglas, and resulting in paint residue adhered to the Plexiglas. These are located in the impasto in the upper half of the large sheet. The smaller sheet consists of two sheets of paper taped together with clear adhesive tape at intervals along the top and left edges. The full sheet has a horizontal crease mid-center from a previous fold, and has a large cut-out rectangle space in the upper half. The edge of the cut-out is surrounded by various scattered soft creases and a 1 ½" tear extending up from the upper left corner, all dating from the time of execution.
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.