"Cy Twombly (b. 1928) is one of the leading figures from the generation of American artists that also included Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. Unlike them, he left America early in his career to live and work in Italy where he drew inspiration from European literature and classical culture. He swiftly built an international reputation with his uniquely expressive abstract paintings, works on paper and sculpture. " "Accompanying a major, touring retrospective spanning over fifty years of Twombly's work, this book provides a long-needed critical overview of his career, focusing on his paintings, drawings and sculpture. There is also a rare and wide-ranging interview with the artist and a newly commissioned text by the artist Tacita Dean, as well as an illustrated chronology and extensive bibliography. " "Combining the latest scholarship with numerous colour illustrations, this will be the most thorough examination of the life and work of this artist for years to come. "--Jacket.