“Fiori” (1940) – Filippo de Pisis (1896–1956)
Filippo de Pisis (1896–1956), originally named Luigi Filippo Tibertelli, was a distinguished Italian painter and poet. He is known for his evocative cityscapes. He also created notable still lifes and portraits.
Closely linked to the Metaphysical painting movement, De Pisis developed a unique lyrical style. He incorporated elements of Impressionism and Expressionism, blended with his personal sensibility.
“I paint as I breathe.” – De Pisis
Life, Education and Artistic Development
- De Pisis was born on April 11, 1896, in Ferrara, Italy, into an aristocratic family.
- During his regular education, he developed a multitude of interests, from botany to art history. He was interested in painting and literature. He was deeply influenced by Ferrara’s rich artistic environment.
- He pursued literature and law studies at the University of Bologna and graduated in 1919. His passion for poetry led him to publish several collections.
- In 1919, he moved to Rome, where he held his first solo exhibition in Bologna in 1921.
- By 1925, he had settled in Paris, spending many formative years there.
- In his later years, De Pisis faced mental health struggles, resulting in periods of hospitalization. His neurological disorder, identified as neurasthenia, began to show symptoms as early as 1904 and worsened in 1940.
- These challenges often influenced his later works. He continued to create paintings until his passing on April 8, 1956. Sources differ on whether he passed away in Milan, Italy or Brugherio.
- De Pisis lived extravagantly. He maintained a pet parrot named Coco. In Venice, where he resided from 1939, he was among the few who utilized a gondola. He had two personal gondoliers on continuous duty.
“Painting is the passion of things for their destiny.” – De Pisis
“Painting is not a craft; it is a mystery.” – De Pisis
Metaphysical Painting
Initially connected with Metaphysical painting, De Pisis encountered its pioneers Giorgio de Chirico and Carlo Carrà during his time in Ferrara. He absorbed elements like melancholy and enigmatic settings during World War I.
His interpretation remained distinctively lyrical. It did not strictly adhere to De Chirico’s structure.
In Paris, De Pisis refined his style, transcending the strict confines of Metaphysical tenets.
His artwork is noted for loose, quick brushstrokes, evoking a sense of immediacy and fragility. His pieces radiate a luminous and atmospheric quality, often stirring feelings of melancholy, solitude, and transient beauty.
Critics have lauded De Pisis’s unique paint manipulation.
His work features quick, almost calligraphic strokes that lend an ethereal essence to his works. He excels in his mastery of light and atmosphere. This is clear in his cityscapes. They often express a sensation of melancholy or fleeting beauty.
“A painting must be like a poem, a melody, a thought.” – De Pisis
De Pisis’s Legacy
- De Pisis’s work is seen as a synthesis of modern European movements. It represents a convergence between early 20th-century avant-garde influences and a personal, emotive interpretation.
- His “fragile touch” and “poetic intimacy” are often highlighted as defining qualities of his artistic voice.
- Art critic Lionello Venturi praised De Pisis’s “extraordinary sensitivity to light and color.” He remarked that De Pisis’s brushwork captures the essence of reality. It does so rather than merely its appearance.
- Fellow metaphysical painter Carlo Carrà acknowledged De Pisis’s individuality, noting his “lyrical divergence from the confines of Metaphysical art.“
“Filippo De Pisis painted with the same swiftness and precision with which he spoke, always capturing the fleeting moment.”
Giovanni Comisso, Italian writer and friend
- Esteemed art historian Roberto Longhi celebrated De Pisis’s ability to endow everyday objects with profound life. He referred to De Pisis’s still lifes as possessing a “disturbing vitality.“
- Throughout his career, De Pisis actively participated in exhibitions across Paris, Italy, and internationally. He was awarded the Grand Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale in 1948.
- His artwork is housed in significant museums globally. These include Tate Modern in London, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome. It is also part of various prestigious Italian collections.
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