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Artist or Maker: Sandro Chia (b. 1946)

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Provenance: Lang & O'Hara Gallery Inc., New York

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Notes: "On no account should the artist lose the sense of this spirit of revolt and freedom for it is the essence of art" (Sandro Chia, quoted in Sandro Chia, exh. cat., Nationalgalerie Berlin, 1992, p. 244).


In Padrone e Cane, Sandro Chia is not only devoted to painting but also concerned with his surrounding country, buildings and favorite dogs, which make frequent appearances in his work. In the present work, Chia paints objects poetically using rich tones of ochre and green, mimicking his beloved landscape. His swirling paint strokes operate within a rage of glowing colors, reveling in a luxurious and lightheartedness that characterizes his best work. In Padrone e Cane the central figure asserts himself in individual cheerfulness, full of movement and vivacious merriment. This larger-than-life, heroic male figure can be identified with the artist himself.

One of the leading members of the Italian Neo-Expressionists, Sandro Chia's paintings are deeply rooted in art history. He unites Picasso's Neoclassicism with the dream-like, poetic quality of Marc Chagall. He is greatly influenced by the Fauves in his use of Matisse-like hues as well as the Futurists and early Italian art. Celebrating man's sensuality, animal vitality and closeness to the natural world, Chia's paintings invite the viewer on an engaging journey filled with pleasures and delights of the daily world.