The Italian painter, writer, and sculptor Giorgio de Chirico was born in Volos in 1888 and passed away in Rome in 1978.
At the age of twelve, he took drawing lessons in Athens, practicing by copying classical statues. He attended the Athens School of Fine Arts (1903–1905), studying under K. Volanakis, G. Roilos, and G. Iakovidis. In 1906, he began his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
His early work reveals morphological points of departure rooted in the neo-romantic trends of Böcklin, the magic realism of Kubin, and the influences of Symbolists such as Stuck, Klinger, and Böcklin. It also reflects a profound resonance with the philosophical thought of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer. In Paris (1911–1915), he met avant-garde writers and artists, including Picasso, Apollinaire, and Raynal, and painted works featuring architectural themes and statues. After World War I, he participated in the Italian art scene and connected with Futurist painters. In 1917, he collaborated with Carlo Carrà to develop Metaphysical Painting, which significantly influenced the Surrealist movement, Valori Plastici, and Novecento Italiano.
From 1919 onward, he developed an interest in genre painting, building upon the principles of his Munich instructors. Later, he turned to an academic form of Neoclassicism, focusing on mythological or historical themes and returning to the styles of past masters. His definitive break from Metaphysical Painting was completed in 1925 during his relocation to Paris. In 1929, he published Hebdomeros, a lyrical self-analysis of his journey filled with fantastical visions. By 1930, he distanced himself from modern art, rejecting all his early creations and the major achievements of newer movements. In Florence in 1938, he experimented with his first clay and plaster sculptures intended for bronze casting. From that point until his death, he created approximately 247 works inspired by Greek mythology and ancient Greece.
In 1945, he published his autobiography, The Memoirs of Giorgio de Chirico. During the period of 1964–1965, he engaged with sculpture, printmaking, and theater. He designed sets and costumes for ballet and opera productions, and continued to publish books.
The Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation (Fondazione Giorgio e Isa de Chirico) was established in 1986 at their residence in Rome.
He exhibited his work in Paris, Rome, Berlin, Milan, Venice, London, New York, Ferrara, and Japan, and was honored by art institutions across Europe and the Americas.
His works are housed in major museums and collections worldwide.