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Giorgio De-Chirico Biography
Giorgio de Chirico was an Italian artist and writer, renowned for his pre-Surrealist Metaphysical Painting Movement and his influence on the Surrealist movement. Born Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico on July 10, 1888, in Volos, Greece, to Italian parents, his father was an engineer overseeing railway construction, which afforded the family an itinerant lifestyle. His mother, Gemma Cervetto, was of Genoese origin, and his father, Evaristo de Chirico, was a Sicilian barone of Greek descent. The family's Greek sojourn was due to his father's work, and it was there that de Chirico's artistic journey began.
De Chirico's early life was marked by the diverse cultural influences of his upbringing. He began his formal art education in Athens, where he took his first drawing lessons with the Greek painter Mavrudis. His first known work, "Still Life with Lemons," was realized during this period. The death of his father in 1906 prompted the family to move to Munich, Germany, where de Chirico attended the Academy of Fine Arts. It was here that he was exposed to the works of philosophers like Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Weininger, and the art of Arnold Böcklin, which would have a lasting impact on his artistic development.
In 1908, de Chirico returned to Italy, settling in Florence. Influenced by the works of Giotto and the Tuscan primitive painters, he began to develop his signature style, characterized by enigmatic cityscapes, long shadows, and a sense of deep melancholy. His painting "Enigma of an Autumn Afternoon" is the first in a series that would come to define his Metaphysical Painting style.
De Chirico's move to Paris in 1911 marked the beginning of his most influential period. His brother, Andrea, who would later adopt the pseudonym Alberto Savinio, was already living there. In Paris, de Chirico's work garnered the attention of avant-garde artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire. His paintings, featuring classical architecture, statues, and trains, were imbued with a dreamlike, eerie quality that resonated with the emerging Surrealist movement.
The outbreak of World War I saw de Chirico conscripted into the Italian army, but he continued to paint. Stationed in Ferrara, he met fellow artist Carlo Carrà, with whom he further developed the Metaphysical Painting style. This period saw the creation of some of his most famous works, such as "The Disquieting Muses" and "The Seer."
After the war, de Chirico's style underwent a significant change. He began to criticize modern art and turned towards a more traditional, neoclassical style, often revisiting the metaphysical themes of his earlier work. This shift was not well-received by his avant-garde peers, and he was increasingly seen as a controversial figure in the art world.
Despite the criticism, de Chirico continued to work prolifically throughout his life. He explored various mediums, including sculpture and etching, and his work continued to evolve. In the 1920s, he married Russian dancer Raissa Gurievich Kroll, and later, in 1952, he married his second wife, Isabella Pakszwer Far.
De Chirico's later years were marked by a return to some of the themes of his Metaphysical period, but with a different, often more vibrant and positive, approach. He remained a prolific artist until his death on November 20, 1978, in Rome, Italy. His remains are conserved in the Monumental Church of St. Francis at Ripa, in Rome.
Giorgio de Chirico's legacy is complex and multifaceted. While his early Metaphysical works are his most celebrated, his entire oeuvre spans seven decades and has had a lasting impact on the art world. His work has influenced not only Surrealists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte but also filmmakers, writers, and artists across various disciplines. De Chirico's enigmatic piazzas and haunting cityscapes continue to captivate viewers, and his exploration of the enigma of existence and the human condition remains a powerful testament to his visionary genius.
Giorgio De-Chirico Quotes and
Sales of Works
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artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
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artist, contact us immediately.
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