Salvador Dalí Divine Comedy Purgatory Canto 8, "The Guardian Angels of the Valley" 1963 Engraving

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Rare Epreuve d’Artiste (E.A. or Artist's Proof) engraving from Salvador Dalí’s "The Divine Comedy", printed on BKF Rives vellum paper … Read more Rare Epreuve d’Artiste (E.A. or Artist's Proof) engraving from Salvador Dalí’s "The Divine Comedy", printed on BKF Rives vellum paper with a deckle edge, and published by Editions d’art Les Heures Claires, Paris, in 1963. Sheet size: 13 x 10 inches; image size: 9 1/2 x 7 inches. Signed in pencil by Dalí lower left with "E.A." in pencil lower right. Shown on a black background to highlight the deckle edge. Mint condition new old stock ex. Phyllis Lucas Gallery collection.

Salvador Dalí’s "The Divine Comedy" is a monumental series of surreal illustrations inspired by Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, “The Divine Comedy,” which narrates the journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso). In the early 1950s, the Italian government commissioned Dalí to create illustrations to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Dante’s birth. However, backlash in Italy over Dalí, known for his eccentric reputation and perceived anti-Catholic views, led to the cancellation of the project. Undeterred, Dalí completed 100 watercolor paintings between approximately 1951 and 1960, with one painting for each canto of Dante’s poem (34 for Inferno, 33 each for Purgatorio and Paradiso). Working with French publisher Joseph Forêt and Les Heures Claires, Dalí oversaw the transformation of these paintings into color engravings. This painstaking process required over 3,000 blocks. While commonly referred to as woodblock engravings, the engravings were actually on resin block. Salvador Dalí directly supervised the production of the works and gave final approval for each of the finished engravings. Many regard Dalí’s Divine Comedy as one of his most imaginative and technically ambitious graphic works.

Salvador Dalí was simply one of the most famous and influential artists of the 20th century. Dalí's works were characterized by his unique and imaginative style, blending surrealism with meticulous attention to detail. His art often delved into the realms of dreams, the subconscious, and the irrational. He was deeply influenced by the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, which can be seen in his paintings that depict distorted, dreamlike landscapes and bizarre, melting objects.

Dalí was not only a painter but also a skilled printmaker, sculptor, writer, and filmmaker. In addition to his art, Dalí was known for his eccentric personality and flamboyant style. He became a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement, a group of artists who sought to explore the subconscious mind and challenge traditional artistic norms. Salvador Dalí passed away in 1989, but his legacy continues to be celebrated, and his influence on the art world remains significant.

Some of Salvador Dalí's most iconic paintings include: "The Persistence of Memory" (perhaps his most famous painting), "Swans Reflecting Elephants", and "The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus". Dalí was a prolific printmaker, with his most famous series of prints including "Biblia Sacra", "Divine Comedy", "Alice in Wonderland", "Changes in Great Masterpieces" and “The World of Currier and Ives as Interpreted by Salvador Dali”, the latter two series being published by the Phyllis Lucas Gallery. Hudson-John Gallery is founded by a former Wall Street manager who gained his art experience under Michael Lucas of the renowned Phyllis Lucas Gallery. See less