During a trip to the MoMA in 1949, Mark Rothko became obsessed with an Henri Matisse (“on-REE muh-TEESE”) painting dominated by an unvarying shade of this color. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this color that titles both John Logan’s play about Rothko and that 1911 Matisse painting of his studio. Matisse’s The Dessert is alternately titled for “harmony in” this color.
ANSWER: red [or rouge; accept shades of red such as crimson; accept Harmony in Red or The Dessert: Harmony in Red or La Desserte rouge; accept The Red Studio or L’atelier rouge]
[10h] Rothko was also inspired by the red walls and Second Style paintings of this building’s Room 5, which includes a depiction of a startled woman whose upper torso is framed by the billowing robe she holds onto.
ANSWER: Villa of the Mysteries [or Villa dei Misteri; prompt on Pompeii]
[10m] Oddly, Rothko began his Brooklyn College course on contemporary art by discussing this much earlier artist. This artist’s etchings include The Three Crosses and a drypoint depicting scenes from Matthew Chapter 19.
ANSWER: Rembrandt [or Rembrandt van Rijn; or Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn]
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