Petagna Collection, Rome
Galleria La Barcaccia, Naples
Raoul Pieri, Milan
Acquired from the above by the present owner circa late 1980s

Claudio Bruni Sakraischik, Catalogo Generale Giorgio de Chirico, Milan, 1974, vol. V, no. 711, illustrated n.p.

The canvas is not lined. There is a layer of varnish through which the UV light cannot fully penetrate, but there do not appear to be any signs of retouching visible under UV light. The canvas is very slightly undulating in the upper left corner. There is a tiny area of localised paint-shrinkage to the lower right quadrant. Otherwise, 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."

In Cavalli in lotta, six horses clash below a wonderfully menacing sky. De Chirico here revisits one of his most iconic mythological motifs: that of horses by the sea. In this remarkably dramatic work, de Chirico uses a bold palette which complements the expressionistic modelling of the equine figures and billowing drapery. Although the work was executed at a time when the artistic avant-garde found itself divided between abstraction and figuration, the painterly style clearly owes a lot to the baroque. As with all of his best work, the artist adds an enigmatic complexity to the painting, transcending the narrative imagery. Jean Cocteau summarized it best, saying 'De Chirico, born in Greece, no longer needs to paint Pegasus. A horse by the sea – with its colour, its eyes and its mouth – assumes the significance of myth' (Jean Cocteau, 1928, quoted in Giorgio Ruggeri (ed.), Pictor Optimus Pinxit, Bologna, 1979, p. 38, translated from Italian).