Page "Mark Rothko" Paragraph 43

Rothko and his wife visited Europe for five months in early 1950.

The last time he had been in Europe was during his childhood in Latvia, at that time part of Russia.

Yet he did not return to his motherland, preferring to visit the important museums of England, France and Italy.

He much admired European art, and he visited the major museums of Paris.

Besides viewing many paintings, the architecture and the music of Europe left a deep impression on Rothko.

The frescoes of Fra Angelico in the monastery of San Marco at Florence most impressed him.

Angelico ’ s intimately bright tempera frescoes magnificently contrast with the grandeur and monastic serenity of the surrounding architecture.

Certainly the spirituality and concentration on light appealed to Rothko ’ s sensibilities, as did Angelico ’ s economic circumstances, which Rothko saw as similar to his own, having always been forced to struggle to exist as an artist.