In 1963 Salvador Dalí internationally-known artist and favorite of both the avant-garde art world and the media turned his attention and energies to the endlessly rich subject matter offered by the Holy Bible (especially the Old Testament). In 1963 Giuseppe Alberetto commissioned Dali to created one hundred and five lithographs to illustrate the Bible. Six years were spent, from 1963-1969, in creating the lithographs, which were edited and printed by Rizzoli Editions in Milan.
The works created by Salvador Dalí for Biblia Sacra exhibit a wide variety of imagery, some Christian, but some clearly based on classical myths and texts. Other pieces exhibit the Dalinian use of Freudian concepts. Most demonstrate Dalís capacity for great leaps of imagination and some, I believe, reveal the artists capacity for thinking in a fourth dimension transcending time and space.
Men and women of art would say the Biblia Sacra illustrations demonstrate great creativity. Men and women of faith would say they demonstrate great divine collaboration. Either way, I find that each can also stand alone as an example of the artists work.
Above all, viewers are impressed by the spontaneity of the works. Many were apparently begun using "bulletism". This was a purely Dalinian invention. Dali was known to load an arquebus (antique firearm) with ink-filled capsules which were then fired at blank sheets of paper. Dalí worked with the resulting patterns in developing his images. Genius or Divine intervention
Each of the one hundred five illustrations is tied to a biblical verse and many are obvious in their references but every one provides new ways of seeing the text. They celebrate The Bible as an historical allegory and help us visualize the verses in new, less dogmatic interpretations.
It is said that in close comparisons of the paintings used to create the Biblia Sacra to the completed illustrations, it is frequently difficult to tell which is the original painting and which is the print. The prints are of a quality that would fool most viewers.
These works are certainly treasures of the art world to behold.
LISTED in Albert Field "The Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali" Page 206 (authorized by Dali) print extends to 3 sides of this sheet #83 of 105. Measures 32,9x47,4cm. ( 19" x 13-3/4") WATERMARKED top right. There is only one suite that is known to exist with Dalis 2nd hand signature, the FIRST Signature of Dali are in the stone, more than often mistaken for hand signed. There were approximately 6 of the 105 that were not signed at all, this one for auction is not signed (Gallery Price $2,500.00). The hand signed are appraised by Park West Galleries for $22,000.00 each
