...and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth
Print
1941 (printed and published)
1941 (printed and published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1976) was an Italian artist who forged a style of working known as 'Metaphysical' between about 1911 and 1917, which greatly influenced the Surrealists. It was almost certainly the feeling of impending doom during the Second World War (1939-1945) that drew de Chirico to illustrate the Apocalypse. He may have felt particularly threatened because his wife, Isabella, was Jewish. He may also have been attracted by the fantastical aspect of the Revelations of St John the Divine in the Bible (this image is from Revelations 6:13). De Chirico was also very interested in the work of great artists of the past, and would have been familiar with many earlier Apocalypse illustrations, particularly those by the Renaissance German artist Albrecht Dürer. Parallels can be drawn between Dürer's illustrations and de Chirico's for many of the plates, although this particular illustration has an uncharacteristic nursery book feel to it.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Lithograph on paper, hand coloured with pastels |
| Brief description | Hand coloured lithograph by Giorgio de Chirico, entitled '...e le stelle dal cielo caddero sulla terra', from the series 'L'Apocalisse' |
| Physical description | Print and pastel crayon on paper. Representing a scene from the Apocalypse with the caption (translated) '...and the stars from Heaven fell to the Earth.' Surrealist take on the scene, shows figures walked across a beach with the sky, moon, sun, and stars all looking as though part of a set design. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Copy number | Plate 8 from the suite of 20 illustrations to L'Apocaliss (The Apocalypse) |
| Marks and inscriptions | G de Chirico ....e le stelle del cielo caddero sulla terra. (Signature and title; Italian; pencil (signature) and printed (title))
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| Production | Attribution note: the hand colouring was carried out under the direction of the artist |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | the Bible |
| Summary | Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1976) was an Italian artist who forged a style of working known as 'Metaphysical' between about 1911 and 1917, which greatly influenced the Surrealists. It was almost certainly the feeling of impending doom during the Second World War (1939-1945) that drew de Chirico to illustrate the Apocalypse. He may have felt particularly threatened because his wife, Isabella, was Jewish. He may also have been attracted by the fantastical aspect of the Revelations of St John the Divine in the Bible (this image is from Revelations 6:13). De Chirico was also very interested in the work of great artists of the past, and would have been familiar with many earlier Apocalypse illustrations, particularly those by the Renaissance German artist Albrecht Dürer. Parallels can be drawn between Dürer's illustrations and de Chirico's for many of the plates, although this particular illustration has an uncharacteristic nursery book feel to it. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.903-1967 |
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| Record created | November 28, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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