Salvador Dali Signed 10x13 "Prayer of Saint Bernard" LE Wood Engraving on Rives Paper #61/150 with Original Chant Folio (PA LOA)

Heaven/Paradise: Canto 5

"Prayer of Saint Bernard" 

from The Divine Comedy

Wood Block Engraving 

10.25” x 13” 

1960

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri remains today one of the pillars upon which the European literary tradition has been built. Originally titled simply Commedia, Dante's masterpiece was written at the end of his life and finished just before his death in 1321. Presented in the edition published by Les Heures Claires is Salvador Dali's interpretation of the wonderful and intense imagery that Dante formed through spinning a web of words both exciting and exhilarating.

To celebrate the 700th anniversary of Dante's birth, the government of Italy planned to issue a special edition of The Divine Comedy. For this issue, Dali created 101 watercolors between 1951 and 1960. In 1954, La Libreria della Stato published a brochure with seven of the paintings reproduced full size as lithographs, together with sample pages of the text. The prints are 16 1/2 inches x 11 inches with narrow margins. Due to the opposition these prints created, the Italian government dropped the project and postage stamps were issued instead. Several years later, Joseph Foret, in Paris, who had previously published other Dali suites such as Don Quichotte, started production of the prints by wood engraving. Master engravers worked from 1959 - 1963 to carve 3500 separate wood blocks for the 100 prints. The Divine Comedy project was then taken over and completed by Jean Estrade of Les Heures Claires. (See below for edition information.)

 

Rare 1960 limited edition woodcut on rives paper. Exclusive LE graphics with original chant folio, not seen since 1960. Measures 10.25" x 13" overall in size. Hand-signed and numbered in blue crayon/pencil by Salvador Dali. Exclusive well documented edition of only 150;MINT CONDITION. Image size approx. 10.25 x 13 with a deckled edge at the bottom. Piece includes a Pristine Auction LOA for authenticity purposes. Piece also includes a letter from the attorney of the art owner's estate and Certificate from the printer who acquired the art. Note the photo of Dali signing with multiple pencils at the St Regis Hotel in NYC 1960s.

The Signed Edition

This artwork is on B F K Rives paper with a watermark Les Heures Claires on some of the sheets indicating it was produced as part of the French Edition and is hand signed in color by Dali in the lower right quadrant.  It is also numbered from the edition of 150 in the lower left quadrant.  Documented in Albert Field Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali page 192 and Michler/Lopsinger Catalog Raisonnes. This specific edition of 150 is from the edition in which contracts were made with Salvador Dali who agreed to hand sign them in the 1960's at St Regis Hotel in New York City. Dali signed these rare hand signed prints in three colored crayons/pencils: Blue for Heaven, Purple for Purgatory, and Red for Hell. The color matches the special accompanied text sheets.

History of the Work

In 1957, DALI was approached by the Italian government to illustrate the DIVINE COMEDY. A contract was signed, and DALI set to work. The entire work rrequired more than 3,500 carved wood blocks.

In 1958, a new government was elected in Italy, which objected to the idea of entrusting the illustration of the DIVINE COMEDY to a foreign artist. As a result, DALI contacted two Parisian publishers, Joseph FORET and Jean ESTRADE, and jumped on an aeroplane. A new contract was signed, ensuring that one of the most beautiful works illustrated by DALI would in fact be French!

The work of Salvador Dali (1904-1989) is associated with the surrealist movement of the 20th Century. A diverse and multi-talented artist, Dali is considered one of the most collected artists today, and his works offer an incredible opportunity for enormous appreciation in value. In addition to his original works, Dali produced works on paper for reproduction using dry point, etching, woodcut, and lithography. Many of his works are held in prestigious private and public collections world-wide.

Authentication: Pristine Auction LOA (details)

Due to the uniqueness of each item, please refer to the photos provided in this auction. We offer high resolution images of each item rather than a written description of condition.

This item is being shipped from the Pristine Auction warehouse.