Surrealist Divine Comedy: 100 Dalí illustrations of Dante's masterpiece on display in Desenzano

Opening on September 4, 2021 in Desenzano del Garda, at the “Gian Battista Bosio” Civic Gallery, is Salvador Dalí’s exhibition La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) , which can be visited until October 12, 2021.

The exhibition displays one hundred illustrations of the Divine Comedy created by Dalí in a journey inspired by Dante’s masterpiece.

In 1957, at the height of his fame, the celebrated Spanish artist began work on a series of one hundred paintings based on Dante’s Comedy: the project was commissioned by theItalian State Printing Institute, which gave him eight years to complete the series, on the occasion of its limited-edition publication scheduled for 1965 to celebrate the seven hundredth anniversary of Alighieri’s birth.

Public opinion raised strong objections because the project had been entrusted to a non-Italian artist, and given the complaints, the State Printing Office decided to abandon the initiative. However, Dalí went on to complete the series in 1964: he illustrated Dante’s journey through Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso by reinterpreting Dante’s journey from a psychoanalytic perspective. Keeping the Dantean atmosphere, he added his unmistakable surrealist touch, with soft figures, crutches and flying bones. The supernatural thus merged with a bold exploration of spirituality, creating a unique version of the Divine Comedy.

For five years, 3,500 wooden blocks were hand-carved to be used for reproductions of the paintings, and a publishing house in Florence took care of the publication. It is from this edition that the illustrated pages featured in the Desenzano del Garda exhibition were extrapolated. A video, a series of Affiches and vintage photographs offer a ’general introduction to his eccentric figure.

For info: www.comune.desenzano.brescia.it

Free admission

Surrealist Divine Comedy: 100 Dalí illustrations of Dante's masterpiece on display in Desenzano

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