Giorgio de Chirico

Editions Sonet, Paris (sold: Sotheby's, London, 1st July 1987, lot 503)

Private Collection, United States (sold: Sotheby's, London, 22nd October 1997, lot 17)

Private Collection, France (purchased at the above sale; sold: Christie's, London, 23rd October 2001, lot 101)

Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

LAMeC-Basilica Palladiana, Laboratorio per l'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Amedeo Porro Arte Moderna, Vicenza, Giorgio de Chirico Metafisica dei Bagni misteriosi, 1998, n. 23, pp. 106 & 107, illustrated in the catalogue

Maurizio Fagiolo dell'Arco, I Bagni Misteriosi: De Chirico negli anni Trenta: Parigi, Italia, New York, Milan, 1991, p. 235, no. 33, illustrated

Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down and t-hinged to the mount in two places along the upper edge. There is some very faint mount staining to the edges, not visible when framed. The left and lower edges are slightly unevenly cut. There is some minor paper restoration to the reverse of the sheet on the right edge, and a 1cm strip of restorer's paper adhered to the centre of the upper edge, also on the reverse. A minor pin-sized spot of foxing to the head of the rightmost seated figure. There is a very faint sketch of a figure on the reverse of the sheet. This work is in overall good condition.
"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."

‘The idea of the theme of the Mysterious Baths came to me when I was in an apartment on which the floor had been waxed. I saw a man coming towards me, whose legs where reflected on the floor. I had the impression he could drown in that floor, as in a swimming pool, that he could move and even swim. In that way I imagined strange swimming pools with men immersed in that water-parquet that were in total stillness, and then moved, and at times they stopped to talk to other people who were outside the pool-floor’
Giorgio de Chirico quoted in Giorgio de Chirico. Gli ideali dell'Est (exhibition catalogue), Japan, 2005, p. 258, translated from Italian.