By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Salvador Dalí had a lifelong love and respect for the Old Masters. He acknowledged their influence in very specific ways, at times, in certain of his works. And he emulated their technique and affinity for craftsmanship in his sharp, careful painting style. References to great masters such as Leonardo da…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian When it comes to examining the extraordinary, complex, and often confounding life and work of Salvador Dalí, you never quite know how – or if – you’ll connect the dots. But sometimes the solution comes when you least expect it. Such was the case recently. In the…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian I recently expressed great joy in finally seeing Salvador Dalí’s appearance on the old Dick Cavett Show, after literally decades of not-so-patient waiting. Dalí was such a colorful, unpredictable, amusing and, yes, seemingly crazy character, that watching him talk and explain his ideas and thoughts in a forum…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Fellow Dalí nuts who know me well know that, for countless years, I lamented and expressed serious frustration over the fact that I was aware Salvador Dalí had appeared on the old Dick Cavett Show, but had never seen a clip of it. And honestly thought I never would. …
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Certain paintings, drawings, prints and other creations by Salvador Dalí have something about them that’s a bit of a mystery to me. They’re works that not only grab ahold of me, but seduce me into coming back to them time and again, insisting that each time I return…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Everyone has their “thing” when it comes to Salvador Dalí. Some love how mind-bending his paintings were. Not to mention his drawings, prints, and three-dimensional objects. Others are fascinated by his scientific and mathematical mind. Many couldn’t get enough of his eccentricities, especially when they went public…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Salvador Dalí was almost frustratingly contradictory. His so-called false memories, discussed in his Secret Life autobiography, added to his enigma, his living paradox. When it came to music as an art form, Dalí claimed it was woefully inferior to painting. The eye clearly triumphed over the ear, he…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian Salvador Dalí was surrounded by water. He lived and worked near it, swam in it, boated on it, captured it in oil paint, and drank it instead of alcohol. Today it’s all about Dalí and water. Salvador and Gala lived virtually all their lives on the shoreline…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian I once wrote that, had Salvador Dalí painted nothing more than landscapes, his place in art history would still be assured. Of course, let’s be clear: Dalí could have painted anything; his talent was beyond extraordinary. Fortunately for lovers of landscape painting, Dalí produced some remarkable ones…
By Paul Chimera Salvador Dalí Historian One of the fascinating, ingenious, and at times amusing aspects of the art of Salvador Dalí is how he titled his works. Some titles are so lengthy, verbose, and convoluted – or just impossible to remember – that alternative titles were adopted to abridge things and liberate writers…