La magia della linea. 110 disegni di de Chirico dalla Fondazione Giorgio e Isa de Chirico.

For de Chirico, a drawing was a reflection of one's thoughts and a form that was as worthy as painting, if not worthier, and it is to this “divine art form” as the Master himself described it, that this entire exhibition is dedicated. “The magic of line 110 drawings by de Chirico from the Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation” is being promoted by the City of Rome's Departments of Cultural Policy and Communications along with the Cultural Heritage Superintendency and the Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation and it is being hosted by the Museo Carlo Billotti in the Orangery at the Villa Borghese from 23 January to 19 April 2009.
The exhibition, organized by Zètema Progetto Cultura with Elena Pontiggia as its curator, begins with a quite extraordinary group of metaphysical drawings loaned, for the occasion, by Rome's National Gallery of Modern Art. The most important pieces from the Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation follow: a truly refined collection that includes his Fight Scenes and Ancient Nudes (1926), the Gladiator series and Hebdomeros (1928) as well as the evocative series of Furniture in the Valley and Mysterious Baths that date to the 30s.
Other drawings on display – also on loan from the Foundation – include examples of the realistic style of drawings he did in the 40s including the particularly striking self-portrait in the guise of Christ on Calvary and the quite unexpected series of affectionate sketches he did of himself with the family's dogs.
The lithographs of the Apocalypse done in 1941 and works produced during his neo-metaphysical period in the 60s and 70s can be found towards the end of the exhibition route which actually ends with a section dedicated to his drawings of theatre sets, costumes and characters. This final section also provides the opportunity to admire has the amazing 1931 Pulcinella and 1938 Proteus costumes only recently acquired by the Foundation and on show here for the first time ever. The Skira catalogue accompanies the exhibition, featuring articles by Paolo Picozza, Achille Bonito Oliva, Michele Tavola has, as its introduction, an analytical essay by Elena Pontiggia who sets out de Chirico's own theories about drawing.
This particular de Chirico exhibition is just one of a diverse series of cultural events being overseen by Achille Bonito Oliva between 2008 and 2010 as part of the emblematic “The Immortality of Giorgio de Chirico” tribute that the City of Rome is determined to pay this great Master in celebrating the 30th anniversary of his death – 120 years after his birth.