Cobalt Circle
- Date
- 1953
- Material
- Oil on panel
- made in
- Laramie, Wyoming, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 211
- Dimensions
- diameter: 22 7/8 in. (58.1 cm)
framed: 27 7/8 x 27 7/8 in. (70.8 x 70.8 cm) - Credit Line
- Funds given by Harvey and Linda Saligman
- Rights
- © Estate of Ilya Bolotowsky / Licensed by ARS, New York, NY
- Object Number
- 106:1987
NOTES
Ilya Bolotowsky contrasts the circular format of this painting with a rigidly angular, abstract composition in shades of teal, ochre, red, gray, and plum. Educated in Russia, Bolotowsky moved to New York in 1923. He experienced the work of artist Piet Mondrian a decade later and subsequently devoted his career to emulating the geometric, nonobjective style espoused by the Dutch artist. Bolotowsky became a pioneer in American abstraction and experimented with a range of canvas formats including diamonds, triangles, and circles.
Provenance
c.1954 -
Grace Borgenicht Gallery, New York, NY [1]
Sue and David Workman, CT
Waxman Foundation, New York, NY, given by Sue and David Workman [2]
by 1986 - 1987
Washburn Gallery, New York, NY
1987 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Washburn Gallery [3]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is an invoice from the Washburn Gallery to the Museum dated January 16, 1987. It cites the Borgenicht Gallery, Sue and David Workman, and the Waxman Foundation as previous owners, but does not include dates or means of transfer [SLAM document file]. Additional documents are as follows.
[1] An undated white gallery label on the painting's verso from the Borgenicht Gallery supports ownership by the gallery. According to Bolotowsky's biography on the Smithsonian Museum's website, the artist joined the Grace Borgenicht Gallery in 1954, where he showed biennially [Smithsonian American Art Museum, "Ilya Bolotowsky": http://americanart.si.edu/search/artist_bio.cfm?ID=489 (last accessed November 2, 2007)].
[2] According to Joan Washburn, director of the Washburn Gallery, New York, NY, the Workmans gave the painting to the Waxman Foundation prior to 1986 [e-mail correspondence between Joan Washburn and Renée DeVoe Mertz, November 3, 2007, SLAM document files].
[3] Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, May 18, 1987.
Grace Borgenicht Gallery, New York, NY [1]
Sue and David Workman, CT
Waxman Foundation, New York, NY, given by Sue and David Workman [2]
by 1986 - 1987
Washburn Gallery, New York, NY
1987 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Washburn Gallery [3]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is an invoice from the Washburn Gallery to the Museum dated January 16, 1987. It cites the Borgenicht Gallery, Sue and David Workman, and the Waxman Foundation as previous owners, but does not include dates or means of transfer [SLAM document file]. Additional documents are as follows.
[1] An undated white gallery label on the painting's verso from the Borgenicht Gallery supports ownership by the gallery. According to Bolotowsky's biography on the Smithsonian Museum's website, the artist joined the Grace Borgenicht Gallery in 1954, where he showed biennially [Smithsonian American Art Museum, "Ilya Bolotowsky": http://americanart.si.edu/search/artist_bio.cfm?ID=489 (last accessed November 2, 2007)].
[2] According to Joan Washburn, director of the Washburn Gallery, New York, NY, the Workmans gave the painting to the Waxman Foundation prior to 1986 [e-mail correspondence between Joan Washburn and Renée DeVoe Mertz, November 3, 2007, SLAM document files].
[3] Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, May 18, 1987.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.