Giorgio de Chirico

Lee Ault, New York
Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
Mrs H. Jason, Freeport, Long Island (acquired from the above on 27th June 1949)
Galerie Beyeler, Basel
Galerie Jan Krugier, Geneva
Acquired from the above by the present owner in the 1970s

Basel, ArtBasel, Galerie Jan Krugier, 1975, n.n.
Paris, Galerie Isy Brachot & Galerie de Seine, Le Musée volé, 1979, n.n.
Paris, Artcurial, L'Aventure surréaliste autour d'André Breton, 1986, no. 62
Paris, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris & Geneva, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Regards sur Minotaure, 1987-88, no. 108
Milan, Palazzo Reale & Frankfurt, Schirn Kunsthalle, I Surrealisti, 1989, n.n.
Paris, Artcurial, André Pieyre de Mandiargues et l'art du XXème siècle, 1990, n.n.
Tokyo, The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Man Ray et ses amis, 1991, no. 167
Paris, Galerie Thessa Herold, Henri Michaux, le langage du peintre, le regard du poète, 1994, no. 46
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno, Gaceta de Arte y su epoca 1932-1936, 1997, n.n.
Paris, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Giorgio de Chirico, La fabrique des rêves, 2009, no. 46
Rome, Complesso del Vittoriano, Dada e Surrealismo riscoperti, 2009, n.n.
Saint-Louis (Alsace), Espace d'Art Contemporain Fernet-Branca, Chassé-Croisé Dada-Surréaliste 1916-1969, 2012, n.n.

René Passeron (ed.), Encyclopédie du Surréalisme, Paris, 1975, illustrated p. 137
Dictionnaire Général du Surréalisme et de ses environs, Paris, 1982, illustrated p. 220
Jean Leymarie, Méditerranée, Sources et formes du XXème siècle, Paris, 1988, illustrated p. 101
Beaux Arts, Paris, April 1988, no. 56, illustrated n.p.
Maurizio Fagiolo dell'Arco, De Chirico gli anni trenta, Rome, 1991, no. 45, illustrated p. 334
Georges Sebbag, Memorabilia, Constellations inaperçues, Dada & Surréalisme 1916-1970, Paris, 2010, illustrated p. 271
Georges Sebbag, Potence avec paratonnerre - Surréalisme et philosophie, Paris, 2012, illustrated on the cover

This work is in good condition. The canvas is lined [according to our restorer this can be easily removed]. A close inspection reveals a stable network of minor hairline shrinkage, notably in the upper half of the composition, with associated tiny spots of retouching visible under UV light. There are some minor hairline craquelure running horizontally in the yellow pigment towards the left edge and the rightmost egg. Examination under UV light reveals some small spots of retouching to the shadows in the foreground and to the archways. There is a small square area of fluorescence visible under UV light in the upper left corner.
"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."