Carol Vogel reports in the New York Times that the Metropolitan Museum has acquired its first painting by Robert Rauschenberg: Winter Pool, 1959, one of the artist’s classic combines. Winter Pool is composed of two paintings of equal height but unequal width joined together by a wooden ladder, which stands on the floor against the wall where the canvases hang. It is to go on view at the Met as part of “Robert Rauschenberg: Combines,” on December 20. Museum officials said half of the painting’s cost was provided by the museum and half was a promised gift from Steven A. Cohen, the hedge-fund manager. Contemporary art experts believe the price was about $15 million.
More info from the New York Times