Christie’s announces a Twombly blackboard painting straight from the artist through his former assitant:

The seller of Twombly’s untitled work is Nicola Del Roscio, the artist’s former assistant and archivist. Mr. Del Roscio is now president of the Cy Twombly Foundation. Mr. Del Roscio, reached through his lawyer David Baum, declined to discuss the artwork. […]

Mr. Del Roscio’s version is one of several dozen paintings that Twombly did between 1966 and 1971 as part of his so-called “Blackboard” series, named because the artist painted white wax crayon loops atop gray backgrounds. The result evoked a naughty schoolboy writing seemingly endless rows of “I will behave” on a chalkboard. The later versions are somewhat smaller and contain fewer rows of script, which dealers say appeal to minimalist collectors because the works appear clean and rhythmic.

Brett Gorvy, a Christie’s expert, said similar “Blackboard” versions have traded hands privately for more than $50 million recently.

Twombly and Kippenberger on the Block at Christie’s  (WSJ)