Baptismal Scene
Purchase, 46.12
Date
Medium
Support
Dimensions
20 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. (52.1 x 36.8 cm)
Inscription
Lower right in gray paint: MARK ROTHKO
Collection
Whitney Museum of American Art, Purchase, 46.12. © Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko
Exhibitions
Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture, Watercolors and Drawings, Whitney Museum of American Art, February 5 – March 13, 1946, cat. 137, as Baptismal Scene.
Exhibition of Watercolors, Florida Southern College, Art Department, March 9 – April 10, 1947.
American Painting in the 20th Century: Loan Exhibition from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Osterhout Library Gallery, Wyoming Valley Art Gallery League, April 10 – May 1, 1959, cat. 26, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, The Museum of Modern Art, January 18 – March 12, 1961, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko: A Retrospective Exhibition: Paintings, 1945–1960, Whitechapel Art Gallery, October 11 – November 8, 1961, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
American Art of Our Century: 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 15 – December 10, 1961, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Stedelijk Museum, November 23 – December 27, 1961, cat. 1, as doopscène.
Mark Rothko, Palais des beaux-arts de Bruxelles, January 6 – 28, 1962, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Kunsthalle Basel, March 3 – April 8, 1962, cat. 1, as Taufakt.
Mark Rothko, Galleria nazionale d'arte moderna, April 27 – September 1, 1962, cat. 1, as Scena battesimale.
Mark Rothko, Musée d’art moderne de la ville de Paris, December 5, 1962 – January 13, 1963, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
A Century of American Art, 1864–1964, Swirlbul Library, Adelphi University, July 11 – 26, 1964, cat. 94, as Baptismal Scene.
Recent Acquisitions, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 9 – 19, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 21 – August 27, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, October 7 – 31, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Permanent Collection, 1900–1945, Whitney Museum of American Art, June 19 – October 3, 1971, as Baptismal Scene.
American Watercolors, 1850–1972, Birmingham Museum of Art, January 16 – February 13, 1972, as Baptismal Scene.
American Watercolors, 1850–1972, Mobile Art Gallery, February 22 – March 31, 1972, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, December 9, 1974 – January 26, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
Subjects of the Artists: New York Painting, 1941–1947, Whitney Museum of American Art, downtown branch, April 22 – May 28, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
American Abstract Art: A Survey from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 24 – October 26, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: Works from the Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Miami-Dade Community College, March 8 – April 1, 1976, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, September 1 – October 26, 1976, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 23, 1976 – January 23, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, February 20 – April 17, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
30 Years of American Art: 1945–1975 (Selections from the Permanent Collection, Part II), Whitney Museum of American Art, May 6 – July 24, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
American Art, 1920–1945 (Selections from the Permanent Collection, Part I), Whitney Museum of American Art, October 29, 1977 – February 12, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, March 30 – May 14, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Seibu Museum of Art, June 17 – July 12, 1978.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Whitney Museum of American Art, October 5 – December 3, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Decade of Transition, 1940–1950: A Permanent Collection Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art, April 30 – July 12, 1981, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Newport Harbor Art Museum, July 16 – September 14, 1986, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 13, 1986 – January 21, 1987, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Walker Art Center, February 21 – April 19, 1987, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Whitney Museum of American Art, September 17 – November 29, 1998, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Asheville Art Museum, June 12 – October 3, 1999, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas at Austin, September 8 – October 31, 2000, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, January 20 – March 17, 2001, as Baptismal Scene.
Bajo la bomba: El jazz de la guerra de imágenes transatlántica, 1946-1956 / Be-Bomb: The Transatlantic War of Images and All That Jazz, 1946-1956, Museu d’art contemporani de Barcelona, October 4, 2007 – January 7, 2008, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper, National Gallery of Art, November 19, 2023 – March 31, 2024, as Baptismal Scene.
Exhibition of Watercolors, Florida Southern College, Art Department, March 9 – April 10, 1947.
American Painting in the 20th Century: Loan Exhibition from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Osterhout Library Gallery, Wyoming Valley Art Gallery League, April 10 – May 1, 1959, cat. 26, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, The Museum of Modern Art, January 18 – March 12, 1961, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko: A Retrospective Exhibition: Paintings, 1945–1960, Whitechapel Art Gallery, October 11 – November 8, 1961, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
American Art of Our Century: 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 15 – December 10, 1961, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Stedelijk Museum, November 23 – December 27, 1961, cat. 1, as doopscène.
Mark Rothko, Palais des beaux-arts de Bruxelles, January 6 – 28, 1962, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Kunsthalle Basel, March 3 – April 8, 1962, cat. 1, as Taufakt.
Mark Rothko, Galleria nazionale d'arte moderna, April 27 – September 1, 1962, cat. 1, as Scena battesimale.
Mark Rothko, Musée d’art moderne de la ville de Paris, December 5, 1962 – January 13, 1963, cat. 1, as Baptismal Scene.
A Century of American Art, 1864–1964, Swirlbul Library, Adelphi University, July 11 – 26, 1964, cat. 94, as Baptismal Scene.
Recent Acquisitions, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 9 – 19, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 21 – August 27, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, October 7 – 31, 1970, as Baptismal Scene.
Permanent Collection, 1900–1945, Whitney Museum of American Art, June 19 – October 3, 1971, as Baptismal Scene.
American Watercolors, 1850–1972, Birmingham Museum of Art, January 16 – February 13, 1972, as Baptismal Scene.
American Watercolors, 1850–1972, Mobile Art Gallery, February 22 – March 31, 1972, as Baptismal Scene.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, December 9, 1974 – January 26, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
Subjects of the Artists: New York Painting, 1941–1947, Whitney Museum of American Art, downtown branch, April 22 – May 28, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
American Abstract Art: A Survey from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, July 24 – October 26, 1975, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: Works from the Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Miami-Dade Community College, March 8 – April 1, 1976, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, September 1 – October 26, 1976, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 23, 1976 – January 23, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
American Master Drawings and Watercolors: A History of Works on Paper from Colonial Times to the Present, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, February 20 – April 17, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
30 Years of American Art: 1945–1975 (Selections from the Permanent Collection, Part II), Whitney Museum of American Art, May 6 – July 24, 1977, as Baptismal Scene.
American Art, 1920–1945 (Selections from the Permanent Collection, Part I), Whitney Museum of American Art, October 29, 1977 – February 12, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, March 30 – May 14, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Seibu Museum of Art, June 17 – July 12, 1978.
Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years, Whitney Museum of American Art, October 5 – December 3, 1978, as Baptismal Scene.
Decade of Transition, 1940–1950: A Permanent Collection Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art, April 30 – July 12, 1981, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Newport Harbor Art Museum, July 16 – September 14, 1986, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Whitney Museum of American Art, November 13, 1986 – January 21, 1987, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism: Works on Paper, 1938–1948, Walker Art Center, February 21 – April 19, 1987, cat. 123, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko, Whitney Museum of American Art, September 17 – November 29, 1998, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Asheville Art Museum, June 12 – October 3, 1999, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas at Austin, September 8 – October 31, 2000, as Baptismal Scene.
Abstraction at Mid-Century, Masterpieces from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, January 20 – March 17, 2001, as Baptismal Scene.
Bajo la bomba: El jazz de la guerra de imágenes transatlántica, 1946-1956 / Be-Bomb: The Transatlantic War of Images and All That Jazz, 1946-1956, Museu d’art contemporani de Barcelona, October 4, 2007 – January 7, 2008, as Baptismal Scene.
Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper, National Gallery of Art, November 19, 2023 – March 31, 2024, as Baptismal Scene.
References
Goldwater, Robert, and Peter Selz. Mark Rothko, A Retrospective Exhibition, Paintings 1945–1960. Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 1961: cat. 1 (b/w).
Goldwater, Robert, Emilio Villa, and Peter Selz. Mark Rothko. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1961: n.p..
Coates, Robert M. "The Art Galleries: In the Museums." New Yorker, January 28, 1961: 78-79.
Selz, Peter. "Mark Rothko." L'Oeil 76 (April 1961): 36 (b/w).
Selz, Peter. Mark Rothko. Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1961: 43, 15 (b/w).
Selz, Peter. Mark Rothko. Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1962: n.p..
Goldwater, Robert, and Peter Selz. Mark Rothko. Kunsthalle Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 1962: cat. 1 (b/w).
Bucarelli, Palma. Mark Rothko. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome, 1962: 17, cat. 1 (b/w).
Alloway, Lawrence. "Notes on Rothko." Art International 6, no. 5-6 (Summer 1962): n. 2, 94.
Sandler, Irving. The Triumph of American Painting: A History of Abstract Expressionism. New York, 1970: fig. 4.2 (b/w).
Till, Elizabeth. "A Study in Retrospect." Northwest Magazine: The Sunday Oregonian (March 29, 1970): 6 (b/w).
Zamoiski, Clair. “Chronology.” In Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: A Retrospective, by Diane Waldman. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1978: 271, 276.
Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: A Retrospective. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1978: 271, 276.
Carmean, E. A., Jr., Eliza E. Rathbone, and Thomas Hess. American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1978: 247, fig. 7 (b/w).
Rathbone, Eliza E. “Mark Rothko: The Brown and Gray Paintings.” In American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist, by E.A. Carmean, Jr. et al. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1978: 247, fig. 7 (b/w).
Fujieda, Teruo. “Special Feature: Mark Rothko.” Mizue 888 (March 1979): 10 (b/w).
Polcari, Stephen. "The Intellectual Roots of Abstract Expressionism: Mark Rothko." Arts Magazine 54, no. 1 (September 1979): 128, 133, fig. 11 (b/w).
Seitz, William C. Abstract Expressionist Painting in America. National Gallery of Art, Washington, and Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1983: fig. 203 (b/w).
Breitman, Ellen. Rothko entry. In The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism, Works on Paper 1938-1948. Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA, 1986: 168, cat. 123 (b/w).
Schimmel, Paul, and Lawrence Alloway. The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism, Works on Paper, 1938–1948. Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA, 1986: 168, 196, cat. 123 (b/w).
Polcari, Stephen. Abstract Expressionism and the Modern Experience. New York, 1991: 129, 130, 132, 135, fig. 68 (b/w).
Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko in New York. (New York, 1994): plate 14 (color).
Weiss, Jeffrey, ed. Mark Rothko. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1998: 341.
Wick, Oliver. Mark Rothko: Works on Paper, 1930–1969. Galerie Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland, 2005: 30n7.
Anfam, David. “Rothko in the 1940s: Of Time and Tide.” In Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950, edited by Bradford R. Collins. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 84.
Fine, Ruth. “Meaning in Touch: Rothko on Paper.” In Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950, edited by Bradford R. Collins. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 103.
Collins, Bradford R., ed. Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 84, 103, 165.
Anfam, David, ed. Abstract Expressionism. Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2016: 50, 53, fig. 26 (color).
Greenhalgh, Adam. Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2023: 20-21, 23, 27, 182, 189n39, 189n51, 190n72, plate 28 (color), back cover (color detail).
Goldwater, Robert, Emilio Villa, and Peter Selz. Mark Rothko. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1961: n.p..
Coates, Robert M. "The Art Galleries: In the Museums." New Yorker, January 28, 1961: 78-79.
Selz, Peter. "Mark Rothko." L'Oeil 76 (April 1961): 36 (b/w).
Selz, Peter. Mark Rothko. Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1961: 43, 15 (b/w).
Selz, Peter. Mark Rothko. Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1962: n.p..
Goldwater, Robert, and Peter Selz. Mark Rothko. Kunsthalle Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 1962: cat. 1 (b/w).
Bucarelli, Palma. Mark Rothko. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome, 1962: 17, cat. 1 (b/w).
Alloway, Lawrence. "Notes on Rothko." Art International 6, no. 5-6 (Summer 1962): n. 2, 94.
Sandler, Irving. The Triumph of American Painting: A History of Abstract Expressionism. New York, 1970: fig. 4.2 (b/w).
Till, Elizabeth. "A Study in Retrospect." Northwest Magazine: The Sunday Oregonian (March 29, 1970): 6 (b/w).
Zamoiski, Clair. “Chronology.” In Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: A Retrospective, by Diane Waldman. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1978: 271, 276.
Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko, 1903–1970: A Retrospective. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1978: 271, 276.
Carmean, E. A., Jr., Eliza E. Rathbone, and Thomas Hess. American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1978: 247, fig. 7 (b/w).
Rathbone, Eliza E. “Mark Rothko: The Brown and Gray Paintings.” In American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist, by E.A. Carmean, Jr. et al. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1978: 247, fig. 7 (b/w).
Fujieda, Teruo. “Special Feature: Mark Rothko.” Mizue 888 (March 1979): 10 (b/w).
Polcari, Stephen. "The Intellectual Roots of Abstract Expressionism: Mark Rothko." Arts Magazine 54, no. 1 (September 1979): 128, 133, fig. 11 (b/w).
Seitz, William C. Abstract Expressionist Painting in America. National Gallery of Art, Washington, and Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1983: fig. 203 (b/w).
Breitman, Ellen. Rothko entry. In The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism, Works on Paper 1938-1948. Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA, 1986: 168, cat. 123 (b/w).
Schimmel, Paul, and Lawrence Alloway. The Interpretive Link: Abstract Surrealism into Abstract Expressionism, Works on Paper, 1938–1948. Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA, 1986: 168, 196, cat. 123 (b/w).
Polcari, Stephen. Abstract Expressionism and the Modern Experience. New York, 1991: 129, 130, 132, 135, fig. 68 (b/w).
Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko in New York. (New York, 1994): plate 14 (color).
Weiss, Jeffrey, ed. Mark Rothko. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1998: 341.
Wick, Oliver. Mark Rothko: Works on Paper, 1930–1969. Galerie Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland, 2005: 30n7.
Anfam, David. “Rothko in the 1940s: Of Time and Tide.” In Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950, edited by Bradford R. Collins. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 84.
Fine, Ruth. “Meaning in Touch: Rothko on Paper.” In Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950, edited by Bradford R. Collins. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 103.
Collins, Bradford R., ed. Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940–1950. Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012: 84, 103, 165.
Anfam, David, ed. Abstract Expressionism. Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2016: 50, 53, fig. 26 (color).
Greenhalgh, Adam. Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2023: 20-21, 23, 27, 182, 189n39, 189n51, 190n72, plate 28 (color), back cover (color detail).
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