Cy Twombly's "The Rose" series from 2008 is a striking exploration of the rose motif, marked by its monumental scale and vibrant execution. Exhibited at the Gagosian Gallery in London from February 12 to May 9, 2009, the series comprises five paintings, each constructed from four wood panels. The dimensions of these pieces are significant, each measuring 99 ¼ × 291 ⅜ inches (252 × 740 cm). These works stand out for their pulsating colors—ranging from deep burgundy, tangerine, gold, violet, to crimson—set against a background of vivid turquoise​ (Gagosian)​​ (theartwolf)​.

A remarkable feature of the series is Twombly's incorporation of poetry into his visual work. Each painting concludes with fragments from Rainer Maria Rilke's poem cycle "The Roses" inscribed on the last panel. This conflation of image and word is a signature aspect of Twombly's art, where gestural scrawls not only reflect but also enhance the imagery. The rose, recurrent throughout Rilke's poetry as a memento mori, serves in Twombly's hands as both a celebration of life's pleasures and a reminder of its transience. The artist's technique—allowing paint to flow and interact with gravity—emphasizes the natural flow and decay inherent in the life cycle of a rose​ (theartwolf)​.

Twombly's bold use of color in these works aligns with his earlier painting cycles, like "Analysis of the Rose as Sentimental Despair" from 1985, referencing quotes from poets including Rilke, Rumi, and Giacomo Leopardi. This intertextual approach situates Twombly within a dialogue not only with other visual artists such as Andy Warhol and Henri Matisse but also within a broader cultural and literary context. The "The Rose" series exemplifies Twombly's ongoing engagement with the themes of nature's beauty and fragility, inviting viewers to reflect on the ephemerality of existence through the lens of classical and modern poetic traditions​ (Gagosian)​​ (theartwolf)​.