Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Cerbère - La Divina Comedia de Dante Alighieri — Infierno, canto VI

SALVADOR DALÍ (1904–1989)

CERBÈRE — CERBERO

Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy — Inferno, Canto VI

Date: 1959–1963
Edition: Joseph Foret / Les Heures Claires, Paris.
Technique: Original color engraving, from the woodcut series of The Divine Comedy.
Support: Japanese paper, according to the information provided, with no watermarks or visible watermarks in the photographs.
Dimensions: 33 × 26 cm.

Cataloged work:

* Michler & Löpsinger, Salvador Dalí. Catalogue Raisonné of Prints, Volume II, reference no. 1044.
* Albert Field, The Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dalí, pages 189–200.
* Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, graphic work registry: Cerbère, Inferno, Canto VI.

Description:

Extraordinary surrealist composition by Salvador Dalí, belonging to his monumental graphic interpretation of The Divine Comedy, one of the artist's most important and recognized editorial undertakings.

The work depicts Cerberus, the monstrous three-headed guardian of the third circle of Hell, charged with guarding and tormenting the souls condemned for the sin of gluttony.

Dalí transforms this creature from classical mythology into a vision of extraordinary dramatic intensity. Through an energetic, seemingly spontaneous drawing, built from intertwined black lines, he depicts the monster in a threatening stance, with its three heads, disproportionately long limbs and sharp claws.

The presence of fire and the reddish tones of the background heighten the drama of the scene, while the small human figure facing the beast introduces a powerful contrast of scale.

This composition constitutes a magnificent example of the master's ability to reinterpret the great themes of world literature from his own surrealist universe.

The work forms part of the famous editorial project developed between 1959 and 1963, for which approximately 3,500 wood blocks were produced for the one hundred illustrations of The Divine Comedy.

Exemplar presented on Japanese paper, with wide margins and with no visible watermarks in the photographs, which preserves the extraordinary graphic strength and wealth of detail of this renowned composition.

Notable graphic work by Salvador Dalí, cataloged and of special appeal to collectors of surrealism, classical mythology, bibliophilia, and large illustrated editions of the 20th century.
Provenance: collection linked to Enrique Sabater