We are starting something new at Curator’s Corner! Each week
I will write about a work from the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent
collection or one of the exhibitions. I will give background information
on the piece and its artist. If you have a request, let us know!
This week’s Weekly
Work spotlights Salvador Dalí’s “Angel of Victory.” The artist created this bronze
sculpture on a wooden base in 1970. It represents Dalí’s return to Catholicism
late in life.
"Angel of Victory" pictured in the Georgia Museum of Art's permanent collection |
Dalí is known for his Surrealist works. Born in 1904, the
Spaniard was heavily influenced by the works of Renaissance masters. He studied
at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid but was expelled in 1926, before graduating.
The same year, Dalí traveled to Paris for the first time, where he met Pablo
Picasso. Picasso became a significant influence on Dalí’s works, as did such renowned
artists as Joan Miró, Raphael, and Bronzino.
In August 1929, Dalí met his wife Gala (born as Elena
Ivanovna Diakonova). She was a Russian immigrant married to surrealist poet
Paul Éluard. Ten years his senior, Gala was Dalí’s muse and huge source of
inspiration in his work. Under her influence, he officially joined the
Surrealist group in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris.
Salvador Dalí, with his beloved pet ocelot, Babou |
In 1940, Dalí and Gala moved to the United States to escape
the difficulties of World War II. They resided here for eight years, and Dalí
returned to his Catholic faith. This rediscovery of religion was a huge
inspiration in his later works.
On January 23, 1989, Dalí died of heart failure at the age
of 84. He outlived his beloved Gala by seven years. It is speculated that Dalí
lost his will to live following her death and made several attempts to end his
own life.
Other notable sculptures by Dalí are “Lobster Telephone” and
“Mae West Lips Sofa,” both of which were commissioned by Edward James, a
surrealist artist and patron.
2 comments:
Great idea. I love the idea of spotlighting a different piece each week. And then you started with Dali...awesome. I look forward to next week's work.
Thanks for the feedback! If you ever want a particular work spotlighted or want to learn more about a topic, shoot me an email at kayla.lauren.murphy@gmail.com!
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