Post by thomasallencummins on May 11, 2007 5:51:10 GMT -5
www.salvadordalimuseum.org/home.html
Dali has always been one of my favorite artists. His style caught my attention when I was a teenager while studying art and artists. Many of his paintings are bizzare and a little disturbing but always entertaining. Brilliant in color and content.
Oddly enough my favorite Dali painting is one that is powerful yet somewhat mainstream and traditional. Christ of St John of the Cross
"The Salvador Dali masterpiece Christ of St John of the Cross first went on show at Kelvingrove on 23 June 1952, and has ever since aroused admiration, criticism and controversy. The striking angle of the crucified Christ on the Cross, the eerie contrast of light and dark, and the magical and effortless surface effects all make an unforgettable impression on the viewer.
The strange title refers to Dali's principal inspiration for the painting - a pen and ink drawing made by the Spanish Carmelite friar who was canonised as St John of The Cross (1542-1591). The drawing intrigued Dali when he saw it preserved in the Convent at Avila, as it was made after the Saint had a vision in which he saw the Crucifixion as from above, looking down.
Dali proceeded to paint the Crucifixion set above the rocky harbour of his home village of Port Lligat in Spain, with the enigmatic addition of boats and figures copied from pictures by Velazquez and Le Nain.
The painting caused controversy for a variety of reasons. Modern art critics felt it was a backward step, as it was painted in such a traditional style and thought it was another notorious stunt by the artist. Students from Glasgow School of Art presented a petition at the City Chambers, as they felt the money could be better spent encouraging local artists and by providing them with exhibition space."
Dali has always been one of my favorite artists. His style caught my attention when I was a teenager while studying art and artists. Many of his paintings are bizzare and a little disturbing but always entertaining. Brilliant in color and content.
Oddly enough my favorite Dali painting is one that is powerful yet somewhat mainstream and traditional. Christ of St John of the Cross
"The Salvador Dali masterpiece Christ of St John of the Cross first went on show at Kelvingrove on 23 June 1952, and has ever since aroused admiration, criticism and controversy. The striking angle of the crucified Christ on the Cross, the eerie contrast of light and dark, and the magical and effortless surface effects all make an unforgettable impression on the viewer.
The strange title refers to Dali's principal inspiration for the painting - a pen and ink drawing made by the Spanish Carmelite friar who was canonised as St John of The Cross (1542-1591). The drawing intrigued Dali when he saw it preserved in the Convent at Avila, as it was made after the Saint had a vision in which he saw the Crucifixion as from above, looking down.
Dali proceeded to paint the Crucifixion set above the rocky harbour of his home village of Port Lligat in Spain, with the enigmatic addition of boats and figures copied from pictures by Velazquez and Le Nain.
The painting caused controversy for a variety of reasons. Modern art critics felt it was a backward step, as it was painted in such a traditional style and thought it was another notorious stunt by the artist. Students from Glasgow School of Art presented a petition at the City Chambers, as they felt the money could be better spent encouraging local artists and by providing them with exhibition space."
I'm not a big fan of his early work at all though, preferring the more seriously surrealistic. (Except I used to have a small print of Christ of St John of the Cross funnily enough.)