Lot Essay
Twombly spent the winter of 1972-1973 first at Robert Rauschenberg's house in Captiva, Florida and then in Rome. During this time he completed a suite of works known as the Gladings. Unlike the earlier paintings, the Gladings are notable for their rectilinear formal structure and rhythmic movement. Whereas in earlier series Twombly drew on the ancient myths and historical literature of Italy for the subject matter of his art, here he is influenced by Italian Futurism in the construction of his compostions.