11.03.2016-12.31.2016
Mnemosyne
de Chirico and Antiquity
Mnemosyne : de Chirico and Antiquity juxtaposes twentieth century paintings by the Greek-born, Italian master Giorgio de Chirico, and exceptional Greek and
Roman antiquities.
Modern painting and Antiquity come together in an elegant pairing that will challenge viewers’ predispositions on Modern Art.
The show reveals the aesthetic impact Classicism had on twentieth century Modernism, exemplified in De Chirico’s a body of work presented here.
Known mostly for his Metaphysical period, the exhibition focuses on his often-misunderstood series of Neo-classical paintings done after a stylistic shift begun in 1919.
The exhibited paintings are from the 1920s and incorporate the major themes of this period: deserted valleys dotted with classical ruins, figurative works of philosophers and gods, scenes with gladiators clad in armour and heroic horses in windswept landscapes. To illustrate his inspiration, these historic paintings are exhibited alongside a carefully curated selection of objects from antiquity, including outstanding Greek and Roman marbles, mosaics, bronze armour and Greek vases.