Nine Discourses on Commodus, , Part VII 1963

This 1963 work by American artist Cy Twombly is part of his series, *Nine Discourses on Commodus*, which explores the life and reign of the Roman Emperor Commodus. The piece, like many of Twombly's works, is characterized by a spontaneous and gestural style. The artist used a variety of materials, such as oil paint, crayon, and pencil on a white background, to create loose, swirling lines and shapes that evoke a sense of energy and movement, representing the chaotic events of the Roman Emperor's life.