Salvador Dalí

Allan Rich Galleries, New York
Private Collection, Toronto (acquired from the above by 1971)
Thence by descent

In very good condition. The work is executed on a prepared artist's board which has a sheet of paper as the top layer. This sheet is slightly unevenly affixed the to board underneath and the paper shows a few wrinkles and creases at lower right in the angel figure (visible in the catalogue illustration). There is a small stain (lighter in appearance than the sheet) just to the right of the upper center edge. The upper part of the sheet (above the letters) is slightly time darkened. The edges of the board are a bit uneven. Otherwise fine. The colors, especially the gouache, are bright and fresh.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present work is the original maquette for the frontispiece of a portfolio of twelve etchings over color lithograph titled, "Memories of Surrealism," which Dalí designed during a fourteen day period in the summer of 1970 (see fig. 1). This iconic portfolio was filled with the most salient imagery from the entirety of Dalí's career and served as an intimate diary of the artist reflecting on a lifetime spent exploring subconscious symbolism and scientific philosophy.

Angel of Dada Surrealism's swirling text makes it an apt introduction to the suite of images that follow. Fittingly, Dalí places the word "Dada" in this first image as a nod to the origins of Surrealism stemming from the Dada movement.  He inserts the angel, a favorite theme, as an ominous silhouette at lower right, perhaps to foreshadow the proliferation of the Surrealist movement. The drawing is replete with eroticism as well as the soft beauty of letters that appear to melt off the page and the ingeniously incorporated collaged moths. Executed at a time when the artist was nearing the end of his life, it is an invaluable insight into Dalí's own perception of himself and his career.