Biblia Sacra vulgatae editionis Sixti V pont. max. iussu recognita et Clementis VIII . . . Imaginibus Salvatoris Dali exornata.
DALI, Salvador

Biblia Sacra vulgatae editionis Sixti V pont. max. iussu recognita et Clementis VIII . . . Imaginibus Salvatoris Dali exornata.

Milan
Rizzoli
1967-1969
Size : 50 x 38 cm
Color : Original colors
Condition : A+
Technique : Lithography
Reference : 532-1
$16,268

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Description

In 1963, Salvador Dalí, a renowned artist with a penchant for the avant-garde and media attention, turned his attention to the Holy Bible, in particular the Old Testament. The catalyst for this artistic endeavour was Giuseppe Albaretto, an Italian doctor and financial adviser to the Catholic Salesian order. Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto, accompanied by their young daughter Christiana, visited Dalí's house in Cadaques, Spain, in 1956, after being introduced by the art critic Rafael Santos Torroela. This visit marked the beginning of a deep friendship between the Albarettos and Dalí, and the Albarettos went on to become fervent collectors of Dalí's works of art, amassing over three hundred original pieces, which today form the Albaretto Collection.

Giuseppe Albaretto, whose wealth came from his wife's family of olive oil producers and his role as financial adviser, had a deep faith in and devotion to the Catholic Church. It was his belief in the transformative power of the Bible and his desire to lead Dalí to God that prompted him to commission one hundred and five mixed media paintings for a new edition of the Bible, in the Latin Vulgate. Giuseppe hoped that through this commission Dalí would immerse himself in the Bible, in particular the Old Testament.

The illustrations produced for the Biblia Sacra project show a wide range of images, some Christian, others based on classical myths and still others influenced by Freudian concepts. While Dalí's religious beliefs and his relationship with the Catholic Church have been the subject of much debate, it is clear that religious themes and iconography have appeared in his work throughout his career. From early Madonnas to paintings inspired by biblical stories, Dalí demonstrated a fusion of classical and contemporary influences in his unique style. Thanks to his collaboration with the Albaretto family and their partnership with the Rizzoli publishing house, Giuseppe Albaretto not only brought Dalí and the Bible together, but also facilitated the publication of the Biblia Sacra in a monumental five-volume edition.

5 volumes, large folio (50 x 38 cm) ; original brown leather, spines with raised bands, decorated and titled in gilt, cream moire endpapers, upper edges gilt, cream moire and leather cases, inside in beige baize (publisher’s binding). (Slight rubbing to the slipcases, small stains to the moire of volume 2).

Important edition, printed by Rizzoli on laid paper with Dali’s signature in watermark, illustrated with 105 full page colour lithographs signed in the plate, from Salvador Dali’s original gouaches. The plates are mounted on tabs and protected by a captioned woven paper serpente. Text in Latin. With large black lettering in the text.

One of 1499 copies of the "Luxus" edition, this one numbered 1263, with proofs of issue at the end of each volume and the separate proof signed by the publisher (bi-folio, 4to on wove paper decorated with the initials B S D R on the 1st page). Preface signed in ink by the publisher.

DALI, Salvador