Giorgio de Chirico (1888 Volos, Greece – 1978 Rome, Italy) was an Italian painter and writer, renowned as the founder of the Metaphysical art movement (Pittura Metafisica), which profoundly influenced Surrealism and modern art in the 20th century. Born to an Italian family in Volos, Greece, de Chirico spent his early childhood in Greece and later in Italy. He studied at the Athens Polytechnic School before moving to Munich in 1906 to attend the Academy of Fine Arts, where he was exposed to Symbolism, Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy, and the works of Arnold Böcklin and Max Klinger—major influences on his emerging aesthetic.
De Chirico’s early paintings are characterized by enigmatic cityscapes, classical architecture, deserted piazzas, elongated shadows, and eerie perspectives, which evoke a sense of mystery, nostalgia, and metaphysical reflection. By 1910, he had begun creating his signature works, blending classical imagery with a modern, dreamlike sensibility. His Piazza d’Italia (1913) and The Mystery and Melancholy of a Street (1914) exemplify his exploration of time, space, and psychological tension.
In 1917, de Chirico moved to Rome, where he continued his metaphysical explorations and became associated with artists such as Carlo Carrà and Giorgio Morandi. He also worked as a set designer for theater productions, applying his unique spatial and compositional insights to stage design. In the 1920s, de Chirico experimented with more traditional and neoclassical approaches, sparking debates with the avant-garde, but his metaphysical works remained influential internationally, inspiring Surrealists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst.
Throughout his life, de Chirico combined painting with writing, producing essays and manifestos that articulated his philosophical and aesthetic principles. His works are held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in Rome.
For information on available works by the artist, please contact the gallery.