Klu (estimate $350/450,000) from 1951 is one of the few works that survives from this early period of Twombly’s career, painted when he was a student at Black Mountain College. Motherwell was a teacher there at the time and a proponent of his work. In fact, this painting was a gift from the young artist to Motherwell, in gratitude for having been included in the Kootz Gallery show New Talent: Gandy and Twombly in 1951, which marked just the second time Twombly’s work was ever exhibited publicly. In addition to its rarity and important place in art history, Klu is a wonderful representation of the friendship between these two giants of 20th century art.

The rest of the collection is similarly personal, showcasing the relationships that both Robert Motherwell and Renate Ponsold Motherwell had with artists, and with one another. Philip Guston’s September (estimate $250/350,000) is signed, titled and dated 1960, a year after Renate met Guston at a release party for Harold Rosenberg’s first book, The Tradition of the News, at the Museum of Modern Art. This gift was followed by many others, including Untitled (estimate $10/15,000). The work in three parts is dedicated happy birthday bob underlining the decades-long friendship that both Renate and Robert had with Guston. 

Enamored with his wife, Robert Motherwell constantly showered Renate with gifts of his own work. Any holiday, anniversary or special event was an opportunity to express his demonstrable love for her. Renate’s collection of works by her late husband serve as an anthology of the artist’s most successful and iconic series: Open paintings and masterful collages, all highlighted by their loving dedications to Renate on their versos. Untitled from 1972, for example, is dated New Year’s Day 1972, and features a Charles Heidscieck champagne label (estimate $80/120,000). The dedication For Renate Ponsold on the backing board marks the work as a celebration not just of the New Year, but also of this new relationship that had blossomed in autumn 1971.