DE CHIRICO: The Metaphysical Period

By Paolo Baldacci

Book Overview

The self-named "metaphysical painting" of early 20th-century painter Giogio de Chirico continues to haunt modern art. Paolo Baldacci's long-awaited monograph follows de Chirico and his work from his birth through his student years in Paris to his return to Italy. Baldacci details the development of de Chirico's mature style and reveals the many biographical elements of his paintings. 250 color and 150 bandw illustrations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821224999
• ISBN13: 9780821224991
• Release Date: May 1997
• Publisher: A Bulfinch Press Book / Little, Brown and Company
• Length: 444 Pages
• Weight: 7.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 13.8" x 1.5" x 11.5"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

Very useful resource

This book a great resource for people who are studying de Chirico--not only does it contain tons of illustrations, but it has provenance and condition information for all of de Chirico's Metaphysical paintings. This is especially useful if you want to know which paintings of his were owned by the Surrealists, who often re-titled his works. At the same time, however, this book is incredibly difficult to use. THERE IS NO INDEX. Why? I don't know, but I do know it's annoying. If I wanted to only know about de Chirico's relationship to Apollinaire, instead of just looking up the man's name in an index, I have to skim through the entire freaking book. aaaaaaaaaaargh. And let me tell you, Baldacci's "prose" is dry dry dry dry dry. Furthermore, when Baldacci is trying to cite something, instead of just giving the reader his sourse or spelling out his reasoning, he just tells you to look at a previous part of the book (but of course not where exactly one is supposed to look). Yay, now I have to skim through more of this freaking tome. Basically, this book is essential for people studying de Chirico, but I would not read it for entertainment.

DISCOVERING DE CHIRICO

This book is for those just discovering De Chirico, as well as those who have valued him for many years. The color reproductions are many and excellent. His various subjects are presented in developing groups; great idea. This painter was so honored in the heyday of surrealism; because he was the most original; the pioneer of a large sweeping mood of painting. You can read as much of the text as you wish; but don't be discouraged by the endless rambling of the author; he just didn't know when to stop. If you were not a De Chirico fan when you get this book, you will be when you own it.

Brilliant treatment of the the artist

This book is on the highest level of scholarship and aesthetic criticism, bringing together many facets of art, philosophy and literature that gave birth to de Chirico's great works. Paolo Baldacci is a brilliant and erudite writer and an expert on this important, original artist. I am very disappointed that this excellent work is now out of print. The reproductions are of the highest quality as well, and this is a book that should be on the shelf of everyone interested in surrealism.

A delight for de Chirico enthusiasts.

More than its many full-color and good-sized reproductions of the great artist's best paintings, this book also offers much fascinating text to illuminate the many influences that shaped the life and work of this supreme creator of enigmatic clarities.