Sandro Chia

Joan and Paul Selwyn, Beverly Hills
Sale: Christie's, London, Contemporary Art (The Eric Clapton Collection), 29 May 1997, Lot 20
Acquired directly at the above by the present owner

San Francisco, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Human Condition: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Biennial III, 1984

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is slightly softer in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There are a few minute scattered losses: two to the left of the figure's left hand, one above centre along the right extreme edge, two minute spots below that and one right of centre along the bottom edge, with an associated tiny web of craquelure. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultra-violet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In the early 1980s, after years of conceiving his work mostly in a conceptual manner under the influence of Arte Povera, Sandro Chia turned to the medium of paint, exploring the expressive possibilities lying within it. Executed in 1982, The Hand Game is part of Sandro Chia's important series depicting isolated heroic figures, usually represented wandering in a magical non-descript land, surrounded by mysterious objects and bathed in electric hues. Re-writing the conventions of self-portraiture, these figures can be read in a mythological key, with the hero as a pilgrim in search of his destiny, having to face trials along the way and overcome his own fears. In the present work the suspended mercurial figure represented in exuberant brushstrokes is framed by the flying cylindrical objects, at once threatening and protective, allowing him to take his place at the centre of the composition. Twisted and giving his back to the viewer, the figure's emotions are concealed from us, while the rich reds and yellows of the palette tint the pictorial plane and convey a sense of urgency, threat and event. Encompassing all the characteristics of Chia's mature work, The Hand Game is a powerful testament to the artist's quest into human emotion and to his ability to express it in a fresh and powerful language.