Judith Rothschild

The exposition of the Marble Palace is the first ever exhibition of an American abstract artist Judith Rothschild (1921-1993) in Saint Petersburg with over 48 works -from her early paintings to collages of the last period - on display. Most important for her professional growth was her period of study under Hans Hoffman in 1943-44. It was Hoffman who introduced the young artist into the world of European modernism and was not accidental that she started working on the translation of statements and theoretical works by P.Picasso, P.Mondrian, J.Miro. At that time she became acquainted with M.Duchamp and visited Mondrian's studio. The first one-woman exhibition of Judith Rothschild was organized in 1945. In 1958 Rothschild started one of the most important series in her career - 'Marche'. In the early 1970s Judith Rothschild began to make relief painting combining figurative elements with abstract tradition. For the following 20 years, notwithstanding her poor health, Judith Rothschild continued to paint, work on collages, traveled and worked in Europe and Iran. Judith Rothschild's last cycles are linked to two global themes: Troy and Gothic. While working on Gothic series Judith Rothschild suffered a heart attack. Judith Rothschild died in 1993 at the age of 72. Studying modern art encouraged her thinking about the promotion of under-appreciated during their lifetime painters. This idea was realized with the establishment of Judith Rothschild Foundation, according to her will, in 1994.