Salvador Dalí

Marquis de Cuevas, New York

Margaret Strong de Cuevas de Larrain, New York & Palm Beach (inherited from the above and until 1985)

Acquired by the present owner in the late 1990s

Robert Descharnes & Gilles Néret, Salvador Dalí 1904-1989, vol. II, Cologne, 1994, no. 1050, illustrated p. 468 (catalogued with incorrect dimensions)

Excellent condition. Original canvas. The paint layer is clean and stable. Under UV, there is no evidence of retouching.
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.

Dalí's reinterpretations of Renaissance subjects are some of the most compelling images.  Painted in 1954, the present work was created after the artist's return to Spain from the United States, and his appreciation for subjects of particular significance to European culture was at its most attuned.  Turning to Raphael's iconic Florentine painting known as The Goldfinch Madonna, he has deconstructed the Virgin's unmistakable face into a swirling vortex of atomized particles.  Dalí's painting here calls attention to the duality of religion and science in 20th century secular culture and it also provides a radical modernization of a 500 year old image for contemporary society.

The first owner of this picture was the illustrious Marquis de Cuevas, a prominent ballet dancer in the mid-century who married Margaret Strong, an heir to the Rockefeller fortune.  Given his own Spanish heritage and flamboyant style, it is fitting that de Cuevas would have been attracted to the work of Dalí and the provocative imagery that he was known to produce.