Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1989), Biblia Sacra #1 "Sanctus Hieronymus (Holy Jerome)", mixed technique lithograph in colors from original gouache on heavy laid paper. Signed and dated 1964 in the stone in black on the lower right. Lithograph #1 from volume I of Salvador Dali's five volume Biblia Sacra Suite published in Rizzoli, Rome, 1965-1969. This work appears in the Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali by Albert Field who writes, "St. Jerome (called in this edition by his Latin name Hieronymous) lived in the late third and early fourth century, and was the principle translator of Amharic and Greek manuscripts into the Vulgate text of the Biblia Sacra." (Field, p. 201) The handmade Japanese rice paper overlay reads, "Sanctus Hieronymus doctor maximus" (Holy Jerome the highest) on the upper left and "ad Scripturas Sacras interpretandas divinitus excitatus" (interpreting the Holy Scriptures woken) on the lower left. Size: 14.25" W x 19" H (36.2 cm x 48.3 cm)

According to Albert Field's "Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali" (authorized by Dali), "Rizzoli / New York exhibited the original paintings and the prints side by side. The prints are so like the originals that the only sure way to distinguish one from the other was that the paint on the originals made the surface uneven." (Field, p. 201)

The Biblia Sacra suite, including 105 lithographs on heavy laid paper within five illustrated volumes of the Bible in Vulgate (the late 4th century Latin translation of the Bible that became the Catholic Church's official version of the Bible during the 16th century), was published by Rizzoli Editions, Roma, Italy and is the largest published suite of Dali’s work. The suite was commissioned by Dali’s friend and patron Guiseppe Albaretto, and took six years to complete (1963 to 1969). Believing that Dali had fallen under the influence of Gala, his wife, whom he deemed to be "beyond redemption," Albaretto wanted to give Dali a religious direction, to embrace the Catholic Church. The compositions, replete with rich color and captivating content, showcase Dali's creative interpretations of passages from the Holy Bible – and the imagery is inspired by both Christian iconography and classical mythology. The works also demonstrate Dali’s use of a Surrealist technique which he invented called "bulletism," where a type of antique gun known as an arquebus was loaded with ink-filled capsules, aimed, and fired at blank sheets of paper. Dali then incorportated the resulting patterns and motifs into the suite’s illustrations.

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marquis of Dalí de Pubol (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989), was a Spanish surrealist artist of Catalan ethnicity born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. One of the most famous artists that has ever lived, Dali was a prolific creator working in many mediums such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, writing , multi media, photography, and filmmaking to name a few. He had a famously eccentric personality, and with his exceptional skill as a draftsman and his unusually imaginative view of the world, Dali captured the attention of the public wherever his work was displayed. He created his own personal philosophy which he called paranoid critical - a state in which one could simulate delusion while still maintaining one’s sanity - which influenced the Surrealist movement. Dali’s world of tapping into the unconscious using symbolism filled with themes from religion, death, eroticism, and decay has fascinated even those who were not frequent art lovers. Dali was a great showman and loved being adored by his public. But needless to say, he had the talent to sustain his popularity even after his death.

Provenance: private Lucille Lucas collection, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

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#133909

This original lithograph in colors is in excellent condition. Signed and dated 1964 in the stone in black on lower right. The overlay shows minor tears/creasing/losses to lower left that do not interfere with the text.