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.
Giorgio De Chirico Lithograph "Gli Archeologico", 1970
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Vienna, AT
Giorgio De Chirico lithograph "Gli Archeologico", 1970. Lithograph on Velin with paspartout and frame, edition size: 300, lower left numbered 183/300. Signed lower right. Measurement...
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Engraving on Silver-Plated Foil by Giorgio De Chirico Representing Horses
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Milano, MI
Engraving on silver-platedl by Giorgio De Chirico from the 1970s, depicting horses. Measures: Ø cm 55 H cm 48 (frame included).
Metal, Silver Plate
Framed 18th Century Comte de Buffon Engraving of ‘English Horses’
Located in South Paris, ME
Framed hand-colored engraving from George’s-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle depicting ‘English horses’. Mounted on hand marbled paper, matted, and framed in a bob...
Hardwood, Paint, Paper
$650
H 12 in W 10 in D 1 in
Antique Copper Plate Engraving – “Marlborough” by Greig & Walker after J Britton
By John Walker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Original Antique Copper Plate Engraving – “Marlborough” engraved by John Greig after a drawing by John Britton, and published by John Walker in 1800 at his establishment based at ...
Wood, Paper
$3,500
H 18.5 in W 15.5 in D 1 in
Limited Edition Signed Lithograph Entitled "Lit de Fleurs" by Georges Braque
By Georges Braque
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare limited edition signed lithograph entitled "Lit de Fleurs" by Georges Braque, circa 1960. The print is signed in the lower right and is numbered 42/70 in bottom le...
Paper
$7,000Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 26 in W 20.5 in D 1.5 in
Copper Plate Engravings by Giovanni Battista Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Set of etchings of views of a Greek ceremonial klismos chair. In his fifties, G.B. Piranesi was interested in archaeology and studied in Southern Ita...
Wood, Paper
Set 5 18th Century Engravings by Bernard de Montfaucon 1719
By Johann Wilhelm Weinmann
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Set five early antique copperplate engravings from the series L'Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures by Bernard de Montfaucon, published in Paris in 1719. The set depicts cl...
Wood, Paper
19th c. French Framed Copper Plate Botanical Engraving on Laid Paper
Located in Wichita, KS
Copper plate engraving of the Geranium by Pancrace Bessa, 1819. Engraving with original hand-coloring on laid paper with visible ribbed paper texture and plate marks. There are a t...
Paper
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec "Jane Avril" Lithograph
By Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Located in New York, NY
Aptly titled "Jane Avril," celebrated lithograph artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captures here, in static form, the very particular brand of motion Avril f...
Giltwood, Paper
$630
H 12.52 in W 22.76 in D 0.4 in
Old Nautical Print by Engraving on Copper Plate from the Panckoucke Encyclopédie
Located in Milan, IT
Print by engraving on copper plate from the Panckoucke Encyclopédie méthodique, end of the 18th century, volume Marine Planches (more than 1,500 figures dealing with all subjects on the marina: planes, construction, carpentry, tree trunks, armaments of maneuvers, ropes, sails, artillery, ship maneuvers and combat tactics). This is the plate n. 149, page. 166 fig. 1209-1212; with frame cm 57.8 x 31.8. The prospect of the side of a ship is depicted. The Print has the "Benard direxit...
Paper
$206
H 9.06 in W 7.49 in D 1.19 in
Steel Engraving from the 19th Century Representing a Painting of Rembrandt
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Steel engraving from the 19th century representing a painting of Rembrandt by Franceso Novesllsine. 1892 Measure: H 23cm, L 19cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product avail...
Paper
Lithograph Engraving of House de Tasso Torquato
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Lithograph engraving of House de Tasso Torquato, 19th century. Measures: H 41cm, L 31cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability.
Paper
$22,000
H 59 in W 47 in D 1.5 in
Willem De Kooning "High School Desk" Lithograph, Signed, Numbered, Framed, 1970
By Willem de Kooning
Located in Kansas City, MO
Willem De Kooning (Dutch-American, 1904-1997) High school desk, 1970 Viscosity acid edged Lithograph print on Italia paper. Signed, dated and numbered. 26 of an edition of 57. P...
Gold Leaf
18t Century Engraving "The Triumph De Ceres"
Located in Houston, TX
The Triumph of Ceres engraving by Louis Crepy after Jean-Antoine Watteau. Has Watteau inscription on bottom left and Crepy inscription on the right. An early 1700's French engraving ...
Paper
Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978) Melanconia torinese, 1950
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in New York, NY
Giorgio De Chirico Melanconia torinese, 1950. Vintage Centro Tornabuoni exhibition poster in original brass frame. Italy, 20th Century. Dimensions: 29" H x 21" W x .75" D
Brass
Sold
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 1.19 in
GIORGIO DE CHIRICO - Sun on the Temple 1969 Lithograph signed and numbered
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Vigevano, PV
Giorgio de Chirico (Volos 1888 - Rome 1978) "Sunshine on the Temple" 1969 color lithograph cm 70x50 Signed at lower right titled and numbered 45/90 Embossed stamp "Alberto Caprini S...
Metal
Giorgio De Chirico Original Signed and Numbered Colored Etching
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Lithograph realized by Giorgio de Chirico in 1973 Title "Trovatore tra le nubi". Edition 42\110 numbered and hand signed. Published on the catalogue "Giorgio de Chirico. Catalogo ...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 33.5 in W 26.5 in D 1.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Framed Giorgio De Chirico Signed Le Maschere Lithograph, 1970
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a surreal, framed lithograph, entitled "Le Maschere," signed by Girogio De Chirico, dated 1970, numbered 12/25. In excellent condition. The dimensions of th...
Paper
Giorgio de Chirico 'I Ballerini', 1970
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Giorgio de Chirico (Italian 1888-1978) Artist: Giorgio de Chirico Title: 'I ballerini' Medium: 6 color lithograph, hand colored Signature: Hand-signed in pencil by artist. Re...
"Horses on the Shore, " De Chirico print with Original Cerused Frame
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Saturated with rich color, this 1940s color lithograph by Giorgio De Chirico was produced by Raymond & Raymond (of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco...
Wood, Ink, Paper