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© Copyrighted Artwork
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See the original at Tate Modern, London in London
Seagram Murals (Black on Maroon)
by Mark Rothko, 1958
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- 1958
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Size
- Nine canvases, various sizes
Cite or Embed This Work
APA · MLA · Chicago1-click academic citation and embeddable “On View” museum badge for articles, syllabi, and research.
Mark Rothko created the Seagram Murals between 1958 and 1959 for the Four Seasons restaurant in New York's Seagram Building. He intended the dark red and maroon paintings to create an oppressive atmosphere, making wealthy diners uncomfortable. He later withdrew from the commission.
Rothko donated nine murals to the Tate in 1969, where they hang in a dedicated room. The paintings arrived the day Rothko was found dead by suicide. The somber installation honors his wish for a contemplative chapel-like space. These late works mark a shift from his earlier vibrant colors to brooding darkness.
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About Seagram Murals (Black on Maroon)
Rothko realized his dark, oppressive paintings didn't belong in a fancy restaurant. He wanted to create discomfort for rich diners, but ultimately found the setting wrong for his art.
Rothko painted about 30 canvases for the project. Nine went to Tate, others to the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Kawamura Memorial Museum in Japan.
The low lighting follows Rothko's wishes. He wanted viewers to feel enveloped by the paintings in a meditative, chapel-like atmosphere rather than a bright gallery.
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