Jump to navigationJump to search For other uses, see Salvador Dalí
(disambiguation). In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is
Dalí and the second or maternal family name is Domènech; both are
generally joined by the conjunction "i" Born in Figueres, Catalonia,
Dalí received his formal
education in fine arts
in Madrid. Influenced by Impressionism and the Renaissance masters from
a young age, he became increasingly attracted to Cubism and avant-garde
movements.[3] He moved closer to Surrealism in the late 1920s and joined
the Surrealist group in 1929, soon becoming one of its leading
exponents. His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed
in August 1931, and is one of the most famous Surrealist paintings. Dalí
lived in France throughout the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939) before
leaving for the United States in 1940 where he achieved commercial
success. He returned to Spain in 1948 where he announced his return to
the Catholic faith and developed his "nuclear mysticism" style, based on
his interest in classicism, mysticism and recent scientific
developments.[4] Dalí's artistic repertoire included painting, graphic
arts, film, sculpture, design and photography, at times in collaboration
with other artists. He also wrote fiction, poetry, autobiography, essays
and criticism. Major themes in his work include dreams, the
subconscious, sexuality, religion, science and his closest personal
relationships. To the dismay of those who held his work in high regard,
and to the irritation of his critics, his eccentric and ostentatious
public behavior often drew more attention than his artwork.[5][6] His
public support for the Francoist regime, his commercial activities and
the quality and authenticity of some of his late works have also been
controversial.[7] His life and work were an important influence on other
Surrealists, pop art and contemporary artists such as Jeff Koons and
Damien Hirst.[8][9] There are two major museums devoted to Salvador
Dalí's work: the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain, and the
Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
| Born |
Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech 11 May 1904 |
| Died | 23 January 1989 (aged 84) Figueres, Catalonia, Spain |