Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) was a Spanish surrealist artist known for his distinctive style and eccentric public persona. His technically skilled, imaginative works have made him one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.

Dalí was born on May 11, 1904, in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. He showed an interest in art from an early age and attended the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. In the 1920s, he went to Paris, where he met influential artists like Pablo Picasso. Dalí soon became involved with the Surrealist movement, developing his own unique style characterized by bizarre dreamscapes and bizarre images rendered with meticulous precision.

One of Dalí's most renowned works is "The Persistence of Memory" (1931), featuring the melting clocks or "soft watches" that would become one of his most enduring motifs. Other iconic works include "The Elephants" (1948) and "The Metamorphosis of Narcissus" (1937).

Facts about Salvador Dalí's life and career include:

1. Dalí was a prolific artist, creating an estimated 1,500 paintings, as well as a variety of other artworks including sculptures, drawings, prints, jewelry, and furniture designs.
2. In 1936, Dalí appeared at the London International Surrealist Exhibition wearing a deep-sea diving suit. He almost suffocated because he had forgotten to provide a way of getting air inside the helmet. This eccentricity was typical of Dalí, who often played the role of the flamboyant surrealist.
3. Dalí was also involved in film, collaborating with Luis Buñuel on the groundbreaking surrealist short film "Un Chien Andalou" (1929), and later with Walt Disney on the short film "Destino" (released posthumously in 2003).
4. The "Dalí Theatre and Museum" in his hometown of Figueres houses one of the largest collections of his works. Dalí himself is buried in a crypt in the museum.
5. In 1982, King Juan Carlos of Spain bestowed on Dalí the title of Marqués de Dalí de Púbol.

Salvador Dalí passed away on January 23, 1989, at the age of 84. His influence and iconic status in the world of art remain significant to this day. His works are held in esteemed collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid.