Giorgio De Chirico House

The Giorgio de Chirico House Museum is a house museum in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the work of the metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico. Located in the 16th century Palazzetto del Borgognoni at Piazza di Spagna 31, the institution preserves the artist's former residence and workspace. It holds a concentrated collection of his paintings, primarily from the later decades of his career, maintained by the Giorgio e Isa de Chirico Foundation. The museum opened to the public in 1998 and operates as a specialized site for the study and appreciation of the artist's late output.

Giorgio de Chirico acquired the apartment in the Palazzetto del Borgognoni in 1948, establishing it as his family home and working studio. After the artist's death, his widow, Isa, left the property to the state to safeguard his artistic heritage. In accordance with her wishes to preserve the space and its contents, the residence was officially inaugurated as a museum in 1998. The transition from private home to public institution ensured the long term preservation of de Chirico's late paintings and the integrity of his personal living and working environment.

The museum's collection is composed of works belonging to the Giorgio e Isa de Chirico Foundation. Its holdings are characterized by a strong emphasis on the artist's late period, featuring paintings mostly executed during the last thirty years of his life. This focus provides a distinct view of de Chirico's later artistic evolution, supplementing the broader historical understanding of his earlier metaphysical period. The collection remains on display within the domestic setting for which it was originally created.

The museum displays a specific group of late paintings spanning from 1936 to 1974. Key works include Donna in riposo (1936), Ritratto di Isa con testa di Minerva (1944), Bagnanti (1945), and Autoritratto di De Chirico (1953). Metaphysical themes persist in pieces like Triangolo metafisico (1958), Interno metafisico con nudo anatomico (1968), and Interno metafisico con biscotti (1968). Other significant canvases include Naiadi al bagno (1955), Due cavalli in riva al mare (1964), Riposo del Gladiatore (1968), Il rimorso di Oreste (1969), Orfeo trovatore stanco (1970), Il meditatore (1971), and Sole su cavalletto (1972). The collection also features several 1973 works such as Frutta con busto di Apollo, Bagni misteriosi, L'anniversario del principe, and Le maschere, concluding with Pianto d'amore (Ettore e Andromaca) from 1974.

The museum is housed within the Palazzetto del Borgognoni, a structure dating to the 16th century. Situated at Piazza di Spagna 31 in Rome, the building provided the physical setting for de Chirico's domestic life and artistic production. The apartment was left in its original state by his widow, allowing the museum to retain the character of the artist's personal living quarters and studio. The historic palazzetto thus serves as both an architectural container and an intimate biographical context for the displayed works.

The Giorgio de Chirico House Museum is located at Piazza di Spagna 31 in Rome, with the Spagna Metro stop situated nearby. Access to the museum is restricted, as it is open to the public only by appointment. Visitors can schedule visits on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and the last Sunday of the month. Current scheduling details can be verified through the Giorgio e Isa de Chirico Foundation website. The institution continues to operate as a state owned museum dedicated to the artist's legacy.