Giorgio de Chirico (1888 Volos - 1978 Rom). Piazza d'Italia. 1969/76 Oil over a lithograph, mounted on canvas Cf. Brandani 70 (for the lithografie). Signed lower right.50 x 70 cm (19,6 x 27,5 in) Serial work, made after the lithograph of the ame name, Brandani 70, however with a slightly different motif. One arch has been added to the arcade on left and right, so that the perspective gets deeper. The bordering line of the tailored canvas has been painted over Expertise: This work is accompanied by a photo expertise of Isabella de Chirico, Rome, from 10 June 1978. Also with a writing by Prof. Paolo Picozza, Fondazione Giorgio e Isa de Chirico, from 27 February 2009, which confirms the technique as well as the photo expertise mentioned above Provenienz: Galerie d'Eendt, Amsterdam. Private collection Netherlands Painting over printed models was already quite common at the end of the 19th century. In order to meet increasing demands, this technique was executed in a serial picture production and was authorized with the artist's signature. De Chirico made a large number of variations of the 'Piazza d'Italia', one of the his favorite motifs. The basic concept is always the same, a stage-like architecture and a sculpture recumbent or standing on a base. The Greek native Chirico created a new Hellas in Italy with his ideas. Surrealism recedes behind antique forms in his compositions. A sort of mystic atmosphere is created by referencing different European cultures, the ancient world, the Middle Ages and the modern age at the same time, thus attaining a sort of abeyance. De Chirico is counted among the central figures of 20th century art. As a precursor of the 'Pittura metafisica' he strongly influenced the following style developments of Surrealism, New Objectivity and Magic Realism. In 1974 Giorgio de Chirico was admitted at the Académie des Beaux Arts in Paris and received the Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz (Cross of Merit) of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1976. The artist died in Rome in 1978. [KD]."