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THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY...
HOW THE “DISCOVERY OF
METAPHYSIC” PROJECT WAS ACCOMPLISHED
In the springtime of 1917 Giorgio De Chirico was in Ferrara as a
guest at Villa del Seminario (1), a sort of military hospital for
mental disturbances, described by the painter himself as “an ancient
convent full of huge living rooms, corridors and an infinite number
of little rooms”.
This place arouse in De Chirico a deep sensation and was a source of
new inspirations which led him to paint some of the most popular and
meaningful works in the whole metaphysical contest. In this striking
setting De Chirico drew about thirty accurate and refined pencil
sketches, ready to be converted into oil paintings.
Unfortunately the events of the First World War forbade him to
realize the majority of these drawings, in fact a good twenty-four
of them were left undone.
THE BIRTH OF THE PROJECT
Pushed by a natural propensity
for metaphysical themes, for several years I had been studying and
reproducing the most meaningful works of De Chirico’s metaphysical
period.
Notwithstanding this, I had always whished to study the most
expressive sketches lying undone and motionless from 1917, so one
day I decided to start this ambitious adventure and I began to
reproduce some of his pencil drawings in oil paintings.
The significant pictorial experience refined in those years spent in
the reproduction of De Chirico’s paintings let me turn the master’s
pencil sketches in similar oil works executed in scrupulous respect
for his pictorial method, and using the same chromatic range De
Chirico had used in Ferrara.
This is the reason why I have actually succeeded in painting only
five works. The preparation, study and accomplishment of the
paintings require methods and times which are similar to the ones
employed in the last century.
I think my project is, above
all, a tribute to Giorgio De Chirico. Imagining that the great
metaphysic master would have painted them just like that, represents
a great consolation to me.
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NOTE 1 - The military hospital for mental
disturbances had been an imposing ecclesiastic building built in the
18th century, which was previously used as a place for prelates’
vacations and relax.
Nowadays Ex Villa del Seminario is still a professional training and
disturbance prevention centre for disabled persons, known as
“Istituto Don Calabria – Città del Ragazzo”.
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SOLITUDINE, 1996
IL RITORNANTE
(dalla prima versione di
due bozzetti), 1997
INTERNO METAFISICO, 2007
I GIOCHI DEL SAGGIO
(dalla prima versione di
due bozzetti), 2000
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