Back in August, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced an acquisition of a work by a “major mid-century American artist” as part of its upcoming See the Light: The Luminist Tradition in American Art exhibit. The piece, acquired through a private sale, was set to be unveiled at a members-only event on Oct. 12 at the museum.
The news, however, is out a little earlier than expected.
A press release sent out Tuesday indicates the work is the 1960 Mark Rothko color field painting “No. 210/No. 211 (Orange),” a piece that has only been exhibited twice and has been in a private Swiss collection since the mid-1960s.
“This is a masterful painting,” said Crystal Bridges Executive Director Don Bacigalupi in the release. “The palette of colors is remarkably vibrant and intense. The work absolutely radiates and draws you into it. It’s a superb example of Rothko’s mature period and we are very excited to add it to Crystal Bridges collection.”
The purchase price of the painting has not been disclosed, but according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, experts estimated it cost the museum around $25 million.
WSJ also reports that Crystal Bridges has acquired an early Dale Chihuly glass sculpture, as well as 466 prints and drawings by American artists including Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, and James Abbot MacNeill Whistler.
See the Light debuts Oct. 13 at Crystal Bridges, and will be on view through Jan. 28.
Awesome! Took a pictures of No.10 at the NYC Moma in August. would love to see this one in person!
I certainly don’t have an ‘eye’ for art and my drawing skills are comparable to the work my six year old does on her napkins. That being said, this was the particular piece of art I saw when I was growing up that first made me say, “I don’t get it.”
I too do not get Rothko. I have been trying too for ten years. There is a great YouTube video on him in the Power of Art series by Simon Schama. He comes closest to getting Rothko.
The Rothko that is at CB presently does not look like any Rothko I know of. I saw Don two weeks ago and mentioned to him that they needed to get a real Rothko. He said you mean a mature Rothko, Yes! He then smiled mysteriously, I know now why!
Again I do not get Rothko and I have seen some in person and lots of pictures, But you need a Mature Rothko to be in any American Art Museum to make it representative of Modern American Art whether you get it or not!
Yeah, I always feel like this guy must be a forger’s dream come true.
I get it, and I like it.
please elaborate and tell us what it is that you get–I’m really interested.
I may not completely get it, but I like what I get from it.