Inferno Canto XXI Fraud by Salvador Dali

The Italian government commissioned Dali to illustrate an edition of The Divine Comedy in honor of the 700th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri. While the choice of a Spanish artist to illustrate an Italian masterwork was controversial, Dali's surrealistic approach to the work was a perfect match. Ultimately, the criticism was too much and the Italian government cancelled its sponsorship of the project. However, Dali worked with a French publisher to complete the work in 1963. The publisher used xylographs (literally wood writing) a form of wood engraving to print images taken from original watercolors by Dali. 100 images were created--one for each Canto from Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The edition was 1000, so these are some of the most frequently seen of Dali's printed works. Very few complete editions remain, so the individual images are usually what is encountered. The printing was accomplished using 30 to 35 woodblocks for each image--each color printed individually. This is called decomposition. Some of the images have been issued in earlier incomplete versions called decomposition woodcuts. They provide insight into the printing process itself. These have been issued by the Salvador Dali Gallery each with a blind stamp on the verso and pencil signed by the gallery representative Bruce Hochman. This work is from Inferno, the most popular of the Divine Comedy trilogy. It is Canto XXI Fraud. Four colors have been printed in this decomposition showing two figures (Dante being one) and a floating serpent with a human head, no doubt a reference to the original serpent in the Garden of Eden. This image is in pristine condition. The colors are still rich without fading. The sheet is full and is 10.5 x 13 inches. No other issues are evident. An interesting example of a Dali image as a work in progress.