Dalí’s Divine Comedy in San Salvador
Salvador Dalí's illustrations for Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy will be on exhibit through June 30th, 2013 at MARTE, the Museo de Arte del Salvador.
The work was commissioned from the Catalan artist by the Italian government, on the occasion of the anniversary of Date's birth. However, due to the controversy generated by the selection of a non-Italian artists, the illustrations were ultimately not chosen. Dali created more than 100 watercolors; despite the controversy, the material was published in book form in Italy, and with the assent of Pope Pius XII and the sponsorship of Joseph Foret the artist reproduced the watercolors as woodcuts and engravings in 3,500 xylographic blocks, one per color and approximately 35 for each watercolor original.
The new prints, created between 1960 and 1964, were published in six volumes.
The French company Les Heures Claires produced a special edition in six portfolios containing the woodcuts featured in the show.
