Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Active in New York in the 1980s and 90s as a sculptor and draftsman, Taylor found inspiration for his lyrical and witty abstract compositions in banal objects and everyday situations. In this unusual object, Taylor drew over text and images in a book on Florentine Renaissance painting. He altered the meaning of the text by blacking out parts of it and offered new interpretations of the paintings through his additions of black ink and white correction fluid. The puddle-like motifs and wordplays relate to the drawings Taylor was making at the same time, such as the 1992 Peabody series, of which the Morgan owns an important example (acc. no. 2011.7).
Al Taylor
1948–1999
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
ca. 1990
Ink, gouache, correction fluid, marker, ball-point pen, and enamel paint on pages of a book.
Closed: 12 1/8 x 9 3/8 inches (30.8 x 23.8 cm)
Gift of Debbie Taylor.
2016.5
Thumbnails
Front cover
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
Inside front cover–p. [1]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [2] frontispiece–p. [3] title page
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [4]–5
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [6]–7
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 8–9
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 10–11
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 12–13
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 14–15
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 16–17
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 18–19
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 20–21
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 22–23
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 24–25
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 26–27
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 28–29
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 30–31
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 32–35
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 36–37
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 38–39
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 40–41
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 42–43
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 44–45
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 46–47
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 48–49
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 50–51
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 52–53
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 54–55
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 56–57
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 58–59
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 60–61
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 62–63
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 64–65
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 66–67
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 68–69
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 70–71
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 72–73
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 74–75
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 76–[77]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 78–79
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 80–81
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 82–85
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 86–[87]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 88–89
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 90–91
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 92–95
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 96–97
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 98–99
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 100–101
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 102–[103]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 104–105
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 106–107
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 108–109
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 110–111
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 112–115
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 116–117
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [118]–119
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 120–123
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 124–125
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 126–127
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 128–129
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 130–131
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 132–133
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 134–135
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 136–139
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 140–145
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 146–147
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 148–149
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 150–151
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. 152–153
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [154–155]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [156–157]
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
pp. [158]–inside back cover
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor
Back cover
Al Taylor's drawings on pages of the book "Florentine Art Treasures" by Rosa Maria Letts (London: Roydon, 1970)
Gift of Debbie Taylor
© The Estate of Al Taylor