Combattimento di Gladiatori

Giorgio de Chirico, (1888-1978) Greek/Italian 1931.

On display at the Italian Chamber of Deputies.

Looks more like sumpin involvin' baby oil.

If he were though, who cares?

Michalangelo produced David which is a celebration of Masculine beauty and also a well known international treasure of incomparable value.

De Chirico was a huge influence on one of my personal favorite painters, Paul Delvaux, and is known as one of the fathers of surrealism.

I love De Chirico and not, um, in a baby oil kind of way.

This IS interesting...

It looks to me to be a highly stylized picture of gladiators...

Are they supposed to be fighting?

Very interesting!

Thank you!

:hi:

It is interesting that he painted it in the years of the rise of fascism, although I have no idea about his politics.

I am mostly impressed by his influence on the work of Paul Delvaux, particularly with respect to perspective, although that influence cannot be seen in the work I have posted here.

Delvaux is one of my favorite painters.

Delvaux freely acknowledged his debt to Di Chirico.

I'll post some Delvaux in the future.

Thanks for always coming to look at the art I post.

:donut:

I know that concept is a part of Italy's ideas and heritage. And I know even thought they were violent, all people have thorns, and none are perfect.

There were good Romans also, Paul was a Roman citizen. So when you mention Gladiators, I think of the many good ones back then, even thought the brutality was far worse, but things get better every century. But I often think of those that fought for what is best, and for people in strife.

I really enjoyed the movie Gladiator, many great scenes.


It is interesting to think that Gladiators were slaves. I find that a form of connection to all people, that have there own issues with the things that hold them back, or keep them from being free.


So to the slaves, and nobles that have there own issues with slavery, that fought and fight for what is best, not for sport, and especially those that fight with the better ways of love and kindness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plabgvLw4GQ

There is a metaphor in there somewhere also.

Not of the artist, but by the artist who may be depicting some idea of underlying sexuality in men's sports. Especially in contact sports.

It's not subtle which is why I think it was a deliberate depiction.