Origins & Early Life

Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico ( KIRR-ik-oh; Italian: [ˈdʒordʒo de ˈkiːriko]; 10 July 1888 – 20 November 1978) was a Greek-Italian artist and writer born in Volos, Greece. In the years before World War I, he founded the scuola metafisica art movement, which profoundly influenced the surrealists. His best-known works often feature Roman arcades, long shadows, mannequins, trains, and illogical perspective. His imagery reflects his affinity for the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer and of Friedrich Nietzsche, and for the mythology of his birthplace.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After 1919, de Chirico became a critic of modern art, studied traditional painting techniques, and later worked in a neoclassical or neo-Baroque style, while frequently revisiting the metaphysical themes of his earlier work. Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico was born in Volos, Greece, as the eldest son of Gemma Cervetto and Evaristo de Chirico. His mother was a baroness from Genoa, with Greek origins from Smyrna, and his father, a baron from Sicily, also had Greek ancestry. The Kyriko or Chirico family was of Greek origin, having moved from Rhodes to Palermo in 1523 together with 4,000 other Greek...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Barry Fitzgerald — Contemporary (Born in 1888) (1888): Esteemed Irish actor known for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• C. V. Raman — Contemporary (Born in 1888) (1888): Pioneering physicist renowned for the discovery of the light scattering phenomenon.
• Dale Carnegie — Contemporary (Born in 1888) (1888): Pioneering author and lecturer on self-improvement, public speaking, and human relations.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Balabhaskar — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Pioneering Indian violinist and composer known for promoting fusion music.
• Bruce Catton — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): American historian and journalist renowned for his popular accounts of the Civil War.
• Adande Thorne — Shared historical date (07-10 · Born) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.
• Arthur Ashe — Shared historical date (07-10 · Born) (1943): Pioneering American tennis star, celebrated for his skill and activism.
• Barbara Hendricks — Shared historical date (11-20 · Born) (1948): Acclaimed American lyric soprano known for opera and jazz performances.
• Benedetto Croce — Shared historical date (11-20 · Died) (1952): Italian idealist philosopher, historian, and political liberal.
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