Robert Rauschenberg
Paintings and Sculptures
1948–1953
53.009 / 101
101 Untitled (Elemental Sculpture), 1953
Wood box and stone
Box: 37/8 × 177/8 × 57/8 in. (9.8 × 45.5 × 14.9 cm); stone: 43/8 × 51/4 × 43/8 in. (11.1 × 13.3 × 11.1 cm)
Collection of Alessandro Twombly
RRF 53.009

Inscribed on bottom of box: RAUSCHENBERG 53


PROVENANCEGaps in the provenance are indicated by “(?)” for a single unidentified owner and “(. . .)” for multiple unidentified owners. See Guide.
Cy Twombly
Cy Twombly and Luisa Franchetti Twombly, 1959
Alessandro Twombly, by descent, 2011


EXHIBITIONS
1990s

Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Robert Rauschenberg: The Early 1950s, June 15–August 11, 1991. Organized by Menil Collection, Houston. Traveled to Menil Collection, Houston, September 27, 1991–January 5, 1992; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, February 8–April 19, 1992; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, May 14–August 16, 1992; Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, October 24, 1992–January 24, 1993. 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Robert Rauschenberg: A Retrospective, September 19, 1997–January 7, 1998 (also Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, September 19, 1997–January 4, 1998, and Ace Gallery, New York, September 19–November 9, 1997). Traveled to Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 13–May 17, 1998; Museum Ludwig, Cologne (as Robert Rauschenberg: Retrospektive), June 27–October 11, 1998; Museo Guggenheim Bilbao (as Robert Rauschenberg: Retrospectiva), November 21, 1998–March 7, 1999. no. 53 (shown in New York and Houston only)

2000s

Palazzo dei Diamanti, Ferrara, Italy, Rauschenberg, February 29–June 6, 2004. no. 11

2010s

Tate Modern, London, Robert Rauschenberg, December 1, 2016–April 2, 2017. Organized with Museum of Modern Art, New York. Traveled to Museum of Modern Art, New York (as Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends), May 21–September 17, 2017; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (as Robert Rauschenberg: Erasing the Rules), November 18, 2017–March 25, 2018. 



LITERATURE
1990s

Hopps, Walter. Robert Rauschenberg: The Early 1950s. Houston: Menil Collection; Houston Fine Art Press, 1991. Exhibition catalogue. pp. 155–56, 174, 175 (pl. 102)

Colpitt, Frances. “Rauschenberg: In the Beginning.” Art in America 80, no. 4 (April 1992). p. 128 (ill.)

Hopps, Walter, and Susan Davidson. Robert Rauschenberg: A Retrospective. New York: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1997. Exhibition catalogue. no. 53, p. 83 (pl. 53)

2000s

Davidson, Susan, and David White. Rauschenberg. Ferrara, Italy: Ferrara Arte, 2004. Exhibition catalogue. no. 11, p. 113 (ill.)

Hunter, Sam. Robert Rauschenberg: Works, Writings and Interviews. Barcelona: Polígrafa, 2006. p. 42 (ill.)

2010s

Roberts, Sarah. “Untitled (Elemental Sculpture) [steel flange and stone].” Rauschenberg Research Project, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, July 2013. 

Dickerman, Leah, and Achim Borchardt-Hume. Robert Rauschenberg. New York: Museum of Modern Art; London: Tate Publishing, 2016. Exhibition catalogue. pp. 92, 117 (pl. 81)