Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 172 (With Blood)

Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 172 (With Blood)

1989-90
Artist
Robert Motherwell, American, 1915-1991
Work Locations: New York, NY, Black Mountain, NC, Provincetown, MA
Country
United States
Object
painting
Medium
Acrylic paint on canvas
Accession Number
1994.1134
Credit Line
Acquired [*** insert one of these dedications for the four major works only*** in memory of Margaret Ann Chafee (Doorway with Figure, 1994.1132); Vance Kirkland (Open #13 (In Washed Ochre), 1994.1138); Lewis W. Story (Elegy to the Spanish Republic #172 (With Blood), 1994.1134); Rex L. Morgan (Africa #2, 1994.1141)] through the generosity of the Dedalus Foundation and the following donors: Florence R. & Ralph L. Burgess Trust, Laurencin Deaccessions Fund, Vance Kirkland Acquistions Fund, and the Marion G. Hendrie Fund. Major memorial gifts from Joan E. Anderman, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh R. Catherwood, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Chafee, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Congdon, Mr. and Mrs. Cortlandt S. Dietler, Suzanne Farver, Katherine L. Lawrence, Jan and Frederick Mayer, Caroline Morgan, Linda Ringsby, Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Rosenberry III, Sally H. Story, and three anonymous donors. Additional funding from the Motherwell Angels: Mark and Polly Addison, Philip and Nancy Anschutz, Nancy Lake-Benson, H. Kirk Brown III, Robin and Steven Chotin, Colorado National Bank, John and Lisa Dorn, William L. and Dr. Margaret B. Dorn, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Douglas Jr., Duncan Oil Inc., First Interstate Bank of Denver, Charles and Diane Gallagher, Dorothy Strear Goodstein, Diane and Bob Greenlee, Fred and Jane Hamilton, Dr. Charles and Linda Hamlin, Mark and Diana Hayden, Hinckley & Schmitt Inc., J. Charles Jordy Jr., Key Bank of Colorado, Elizabeth T. Kirkpatrick, Amie Knox and Jim Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Kurtz, Edward and Margaret Leede, Susan and John W. Madden III, Jan and Frederick Mayer, McClain-Finlon Advertising Inc., Lilly and Paul Merage, Larry and Carol Mizel, Andrea Pollack, Priscilla Press and Joel Ehrlich, Judy and Ken Robins, Barbara and George Schmitt, Tremont Corporation, Vail Valley Arts Council, Ginny Williams, and Robbi and Carl Williams.

Robert Motherwell
Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 172 (With Blood), 1989-90
Acrylic on canvas
84 x 120 x 1 3/8 in.
Denver Art Museum: Acquired in memory of Lewis W. Story through the generosity of the Dedalus Foundation and the following donors: Florence R. & Ralph L. Burgess Trust, Laurencin Deaccessions Fund, Vance Kirkland Acquistions Fund, and the Marion G. Hendrie Fund. 

Major memorial gifts from Joan E. Anderman, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh R. Catherwood, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Chafee, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Congdon, Mr. and Mrs. Cortlandt S. Dietler, Suzanne Farver, Katherine L. Lawrence, Jan and Frederick Mayer, Caroline Morgan, Linda Ringsby, Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Rosenberry III, Sally H. Story, and three anonymous donors. Additional funding from the Motherwell Angels: Mark and Polly Addison, Philip and Nancy Anschutz, Nancy Lake-Benson, H. Kirk Brown III, Robin and Steven Chotin, Colorado National Bank, John and Lisa Dorn, William L. and Dr. Margaret B. Dorn, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Douglas Jr., Duncan Oil Inc., First Interstate Bank of Denver, Charles and Diane Gallagher, Dorothy Strear Goodstein, Diane and Bob Greenlee, Fred and Jane Hamilton, Dr. Charles and Linda Hamlin, Mark and Diana Hayden, Hinckley & Schmitt Inc., J. Charles Jordy Jr., Key Bank of Colorado, Elizabeth T. Kirkpatrick, Amie Knox and Jim Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Kurtz, Edward and Margaret Leede, Susan and John W. Madden III, Jan and Frederick Mayer, McClain-Finlon Advertising Inc., Lilly and Paul Merage, Larry and Carol Mizel, Andrea Pollack, Priscilla Press and Joel Ehrlich, Judy and Ken Robins, Barbara and George Schmitt, Tremont Corporation, Vail Valley Arts Council, Ginny Williams, and Robbi and Carl Williams. 1994.1134
(c)Dedalus Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
Photograph courtesy of the Denver Art Museum

Dimensions
height: 84 in, 213.3600 cm; width: 120 in, 304.8000 cm; depth: 1 3/8 in, 3.4925 cm
Inscription
Initials and date at TL.
Department
Modern and Contemporary Art
Collection
Modern and Contemporary Art
Robert Motherwell created this monumental Elegy just one year prior to his death. Motherwell believed: “Making an Elegy is like building a temple, an altar, a ritual place. Unlike the rest of my work, the Elegies are, for the most part, public statements. They reflect the internationalist in me, interested in the historical forces of the 20th century, with strong feelings about the conflicting forces in it.” Despite this statement, Motherwell insisted that the Elegy was not about the Spanish Civil War, but rather a universal lament on people struggling everywhere to gain freedom and independence.
Exhibition History
  • "Retrospectacle: 25 Years of Collecting Modern and Contemporary Art"--Denver Art Museum, 11/16/2002 - 8/3/2003
  • "Focus: Robert Motherwell"--Denver Art Museum, 9/15/2011 - 3/9/2014

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