The progenitor of metaphysical painting — a dreamlike, realist style embracing sharp contrasts, sculpted forms and odd juxtapositions — Giorgio De Chirico profoundly influenced many Surrealist artists of his time. His early sculptures and paintings explored the complexities of the mind and reflected his affinity for contemporary European philosophy and Freudian psychoanalysis. Even though the metaphysical movement lasted only a brief time, he left a strong impression on such legendary surrealists as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and André Breton.
De Chirico was born in Volos, Greece, to Italian parents. His father was a Sicilian baron and engineer in charge of constructing a railroad in Greece at the time of his son’s birth. In his late teens, De Chirico studied art at various institutions in Athens and Florence. After his father died, in 1905, he enrolled in the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Here, he discovered the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer that would help to shape his future works.
In 1909, De Chirico moved to Milan and then to Florence a year later, where he began experimenting with what would become his metaphysical style. After moving again, this time to Paris in 1911, his brother Alberto Savinio helped him get several small exhibitions of his work that eventually were noticed by Pablo Picasso and the poet Guillaume Apollinaire — and his paintings began to sell.
De Chirico was conscripted into the Italian Army in 1915 but was diagnosed with a mental disorder — likely anxiety — and sent to a military hospital where he met fellow artist Carlo Carrà. Together, they devised the metaphysical painting style that consisted of fantastical images of low-lit town squares uninhabited except for marble sculptures, dummies and stretched shadows, purposefully portrayed with flattened surfaces and warped perspectives.
By the 1920s, De Chirico’s style began incorporating Renaissance and Baroque elements, and later works, from the 1960s and ’70s, brought together neoclassicism, Surrealism and ancient mythology. His art is in major museum collections across the world, including the Tate Museum of Modern Art, in London; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, in Venice; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.
On 1stDibs, find Giorgio De Chirico prints, drawings, sculptures and more.
$15,000
Cavallo e Cavaliere con berretto frigio, Terracotta Sculpture by de Chirico
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Long Island City, NY
Giorgio de Chirico, Italian (1888 - 1978) - Cavallo e Cavaliere con berretto frigio, Year: 1950, Medium: Terracotta Sculpture, signature inscribed on base, Size: 15 x 14.5 x 5 in....
Terracotta
Archaeologists
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, RM
Giorgio de Chirico (Volos, Greece 1888 - Rome 1978), The Archaeologists Bronze sculpture 28 x 22 x 18.5 cm signed on the right side, specimen 7/9, dry punch of Fonderia Cavallari - ...
Bronze
Gymnast (bust), Bronze Sculpture
By Richard MacDonald
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture with marble base. Incised artist signature and date. Sculpture size 13.5 x 7 x 6 inches (including base). Sculpture is in excellent condition (marble base has a c...
Bronze
$28,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.3 in W 15.7 in D 12 in
Piano surréaliste, Salvador Dali
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Title: Piano surréaliste Year: 1984 Medium: Bronze Edition: 34/350, plus proofs Size: 26.3 x 15.7 x 12 inches Condition: Excellent Inscription: Inci...
Bronze
The Madonna of Port Lligat Sculpture
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: The Madonna of Port Lligat MEDIUM: Sculpture with Bronze Patina SIGNED: Engraved signature in the sculpture EDITION NUMBER: F 015/100 MEASUREMENTS...
Bronze
$8,500
H 18 in W 7 in D 7 in
Large Original Surrealist Bronze Marble Sculpture Alma Del Quijote Salvador Dali
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Surfside, FL
Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1989) Alma del Quijote Bronze with marble base Edition: AB 52/100 Signed by Dalí This Surrealist sculpture depicts a dynamic and fragmented Don Quixote...
Marble, Bronze
$7,950
H 28.25 in W 19.25 in
LINCOLN IN DALIVISION Platinum Bas Relief with Original Box
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Lincoln in Dalivision Platinum Bas Relief MEDIUM: Bas Relief SIGNED: Embossed Signature. The Bas Relief bears the artist signature toward the bottom...
Metal
The Cubist Angel
By Salvador Dalí
Located in OPOLE, PL
Bronze, hand-patinated and partially polished cast in 1982 using the lost-wax (""à cire perdue"") technique bearing the foundry stamp ""Strehle Kunstguss"" height (including base): 5...
Bronze
Winged Triton (Triton Alado) Bronze Sculpture
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Winged Triton (Triton Alado) MEDIUM: Sculpture with Bronze Patina SIGNED: Engraved signature in the sculpture EDITION NUMBER: AB 52/100 MEASUREMENT...
Bronze
$10,173
H 22.05 in W 10.79 in D 3.59 in
Venus à Giraffe - Sculpture by Salvador Dalí - 1973
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Roma, IT
Bronze, dark and brown patina, realized in 1973. Dali's printed signature in on the plinth. Edition 616/1000 on the side. Foundry stamp "Fonderia Venturi". Published by Euro Art. ...
Bronze
$40,000
H 7.29 in W 7.88 in D 3.94 in
Rare 1966 Original Bronze Sculpture "The Two Nikes" edition of 6 Salvador Dali
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Surfside, FL
Salvador Dali (1904-1989) – The Two Nikes, Lilith, The Double Victory of Samothrace, Homage to Raymond Roussel Literature: Descharnes, Robert, Salvador Dalí, and Nicolas Descharnes....
Bronze
$957
H 3.94 in W 5.32 in D 2.37 in
Puppy - Sculpture by Sirio Pellegrini - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Painted Terracotta sculture realized by Sirio Pellegrini in 1960s. Good condition. Sirio Pellegrini, born in Rome on March 1, 1922, of Abruzzo origins (Capestrano), spent his child...
Terracotta
$2,158
H 13 in W 14.18 in D 2.56 in
Dali - De Draeger - Portfolio Luxury edition - 1968
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Dali -De Draeger, Portfolio by Max Gérard Luxury edition inside special packaged box bearing a cover with “soft melting pocket watch” and bronze medal of “L'Unicorne Dyonisiaque” minted and numbered by Monnaie de Paris...
Bronze
$359
H 2.37 in W 3.35 in D 1.38 in
Duck - Sculpture by Sirio Pellegrini - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Painted Ceramic sculpture realized by Sirio Pellegrini in 1960s. Good condition. Sirio Pellegrini, born in Rome on March 1, 1922, of Abruzzo origins (Capestrano), spent his childho...
Terracotta
Il Travatore
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Milford, NH
A fine polished bronze figural sculpture by Greek / Italian artist Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978). De Chirico was born from Italian parents in Volos, Greece, and when his father died...
Bronze
Sold
H 10.44 in W 4.02 in D 1.19 in
Oreste - Original Bronze Sculpture After Giorgio De Chirico
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Es. 57/100. Signed and titled on the base. Produced at Fonderia Venturi Arte Bologna. Certificate of authenticity by Galleria Blu, Milan, and signed by Isabella De Chirico. Very...
Bronze
Sold
H 11.82 in W 4.53 in D 3.15 in
The Muse - Silvered Brass Sculpture by Giorgio De Chirico
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
"La Musa" is an original sculpture realized by Giorgio de Chirico. Silvered Brass. Signed on the base: Giorgio De Chirico. One of the very few Artist' Pro...
Brass
Sold
H 9.45 in W 2.29 in D 2.29 in
Muse of the Music - Brass Sculpture by Giorgio De Chirico -
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Brass sculpture realized by Fonderia Fratelli Bonvicini Sommacampagna (VR). Limited edition of 100 copies. Numbered and signed on base. Includes original blue case. Good conditions.
Brass