Cuddihy, John Murray.

John Murray Cuddihy's engagement with the work of Robert Motherwell was long and intense, resulting in five scrapbooks. The project proceeded with the eminent painter's approval and often his help as well, as Motherwell sent several items to Cuddihy for inclusion in the scrapbooks.

Robert Motherwell was a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism. Educated at Stanford University and briefly in Harvard University's philosophy department, Motherwell concentrated his energies on painting soon after his arrival in New York City in 1939. Beginning in 1945, he showed exclusively with the Samuel Kootz gallery until moving to the Sidney Janis Gallery in 1958. He had his first major museum retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art in 1965, which subsequently travelled to major venues in Europe. During the remaining decades of his life, Motherwell saw great success with many museum exhibitions devoted to his work.