Cy Twombly's Coronation of Sesostris (2000) is an enthralling painting cycle that spans ten parts, each telling a segment of a grand narrative inspired by the historical and mythological figure of Sesostris, a legendary king of Ancient Egypt. This work, which Twombly began in Gaeta, Italy, and completed in Lexington, Virginia, stands as one of his most narrative-driven series, inviting viewers into a meditative journey through time, myth, and the power of visual storytelling (Gagosian) (Pinault Collection).
The series is characterized by its vivid imagery, including reddish suns and burning ships, which echo the theme of Sesostris's legendary expeditions. These motifs are further enriched by textual references, including quotes from ancient poets such as Sappho and Alcman, and a poem by Patricia Waters, creating layers of historical and poetic allusion. The narrative arc depicted in these panels traces the glory of victory and the passage of time, culminating in a reflection on the themes of love, loss, and the transitory nature of power and life (Pinault Collection).
Displayed for the first time in 2006 at the "Where Are We Going?" exhibition at Palazzo Grassi in Venice and part of the Pinault Collection, Coronation of Sesostris was also featured in the Cy Twombly retrospective at Centre Pompidou in 2016. This exhibition trajectory underscores the work's significance within Twombly's oeuvre and its resonance within the broader context of contemporary art (Pinault Collection).
Twombly's approach to this series exemplifies his distinctive use of graphic inventiveness, poetic sensibility, and the blurring of lines between drawing and painting. Through a combination of acrylic, wax crayon, and pencil on canvas, he crafts an immersive visual and textual experience that reflects his assertion that "Ancient things are new things. Everything lives in the moment; that’s the only time it can live, but its influence can go on forever" (Gagosian).
In Coronation of Sesostris, Twombly achieves a synthesis of pictorial and literary elements, presenting a work that is as much a historical narrative as it is a personal and universal exploration of human experience. Through this epic cycle, he invites the viewer to contemplate the continuous flow of human history, the cyclical nature of life and death, and the enduring power of myth and poetry to convey the deepest truths of the human condition.