Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko paintings: hand-painted studies on canvas

Here you can order Mark Rothko paintings as hand-painted studies on canvas, including No. 5, Blue Over Red and White, Pink and Mustard. A study is a copy painted with a brush by a painter, in oil or acrylic depending on the work: you recognise the painting at once, but in its details and brushwork it differs slightly from the original. Every painting is made to order; stretching and framing are done in our workshop in Slovenia. You choose whether it arrives rolled, stretched on a frame or framed, and before dispatch we send you a photo of the finished painting.

“Pictures must be miraculous.”

Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko is a prominent figure among the painters of the New York School, he moved through many artistic styles until he reached his signature motif of the 1950s soft, rectangular shapes floating on a tinted color field. Heavily influenced by mythology and philosophy, he insisted that his art was full of content and full of ideas. A fierce defender of social-revolutionary thought and the right to self-expression, Rothko also explained his views in numerous essays and critical reviews.

Rothko’s art was heavily interwoven with Nietzsche, Greek mythology and his Russian-Jewish heritage. It was deeply imbued with emotional content, which he articulated through a range of styles that evolved from figurative to abstract.

Mark Rothko’s early figurative works – including landscapes, still lifes, figure studies and portraits – demonstrated an ability to blend expressionism and surrealism. His search for new forms of expression led to his Color Field paintings, which used luminous colors to convey a sense of spirituality.

Mark Rothko maintained the social-revolutionary ideas of his youth all his life. In particular, he supported artists’ complete freedom of expression, which he believed was threatened by the market. This belief often put him at odds with the art establishment, causing him to publicly respond to criticism and occasionally reject commissions, sales and exhibitions.

Rothko paintings you can order as a study

Warm colour fields. Orange and Yellow (1956), Blue Over Red, White, Pink and Mustard and Red and Brown glow in orange, yellow, red and rose: soft rectangles floating on a coloured ground.

Blue and dark paintings. Blue, Green, Blue, No. 61 (Rust and Blue) [Brown Blue, Brown on Blue] (1953), Black in Deep Red and Rust, Blacks on Plum are deeper and quieter, in blues, browns, black and plum.

The numbered paintings. No. 10 (1950), No. 9 (Dark over Light Earth/Violet and Yellow in Rose) (1954), No. 5, No. 22 and No. 13 carry only a number, so that the colour speaks for itself. All 16 Rothko studies are in the list on this page.

What size to choose

Each Rothko study comes in 9 to 17 sizes, from about 20 × 40 cm to almost 3 metres; the exact sizes are on each painting’s page. Rothko wanted his paintings seen from close up, large enough to surround the viewer, so it pays to choose generously: above a sofa or bed, a painting about two thirds as wide as the furniture, hung with its centre at eye level. Prices start at 94 €. If no size fits, we paint the painting to measure: see custom paintings. On request we also prepare a free preview of the painting in your room.

Frequently asked questions

What is a study of a Mark Rothko painting?

A copy painted by hand by a painter, not a print. Rothko’s large fields of colour are built from many thin, translucent layers that every painter lays down by their own hand. That is why we call it a study: the finished painting is clearly recognisable, but not identical to the original in every detail.

Is the painting done in oil?

It depends on the work: some paintings we paint in oil, others in acrylic. Either way it is real paint, applied to the canvas by hand.

How is the painting shipped?

Rolled in a tube, stretched on a frame (2.5 cm bars) or framed: you choose when you order. Stretching and framing are done in our workshop in Slovenia.

Do I see the painting before it ships?

Yes. When the painting is finished we send you a photo, and we ship it once you confirm.

How much does a Rothko study cost?

From 94 €. The price depends on the painting and the size you choose; each painting’s page shows the price for every size.

How long does delivery take?

Every Rothko study is painted to order and arrives in 15 to 45 working days.