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6 July 2011

Cy Twombly, 1928-2011

The celebrated American painter has died aged 83.

By Daniel Trilling

The American painter Cy Twombly has died at the age of 83. Last night, the art dealer Larry Gagosian paid tribute to Twombly, known for his abstract paintings:

The art world has lost a true genius and a completely original talent, and for those fortunate enough to have known him, a great human being. We will not soon see a talent of such amazing scope and intensity. Even though Cy might have been regarded as reclusive, he didn’t retreat to an ivory tower. He was happy to remain connected and live in the present. Despite his increasing fame, he never lost the playfulness and sense of humor that was his true nature and, more importantly, he retained his humility. For me personally, it is an incredibly sad day and my thoughts are with Cy’s family and close friends.

And if you can get to south London between now and 25 September, there’s a chance to see some of Twombly’s paintings, alongside works by Poussin, at the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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