Coronation of Sesostris

Private collection.

Acrylic, oil paint, wax, crayon, canvas.

The theme of the picture, which is included in a cycle of ten works, was the story of Egyptian pharaoh Sesostris mentioned in the writings of Herodotus. The work is made in the manner typical of Twombly – abstract coloured spots and lines are randomly arranged on a white background. A distinctive feature of these works is the absence of drips and splashes of paint. The artist worked with thicker material, applying it not only with brushes but simply with his fingers, smearing the paint a little to create a haze effect.