(Santiago, Chile 1911–2002 Civitavecchia, Italy)
“Amadis de Gaula”, signed Matta, on the reverse titled, dated 2002/29, mixed media on canvas, 167 x 240 cm, (PP)

Photo certificate issued by the Archives de l’Oeuvre de Matta,
Paris 20.03.2014.

Provenance:
Atelier R. S. Matta, Tarquinia
Galleria d’Arte Ulisse, Rome
Private Collection, Italy

Exhibited:
Madrid, Espacio animal, Galleria Almirante, April/May 2002;
Rome, Matta, sin titulo, Galleria Ulisse, November 2002 - January 2003

The painting is based on the character of Amadis de Gaula and his adventures. Amadis is the knight errant of the successful and famous Spanish chivalric novel published in Saragossa in 1508 and based on fragments from an anonymous mediaeval manuscript of the 13th century.
Amadis de Gaula met with extraordinary success and became one of the works that most influenced customs and chivalric literature, not only in Spain but throughout Europe.
In the literary field, Miguel Cervantes and Ludovico Ariosto found inspiration in the adventures of Amadis, as did Johann Christian Bach for his music and Frideric Handel and Jules Massenet in their operas based on the eponymous hero.
Amadis embodies the virtue, fidelity, courage, strength, generosity and humanity of heroes of chivalric literature, in their constant battle against evil. Matta depicts him at the moment of victory over the frightening dragon that Amadis will eventually kill.