Monday, January 17, 2011

Dali Sculptor - Dali Illustrator (Stratton Foundation Exhibition Catalog, 1989/1995).

Dali Sculptor - Dali Illustrator
Stratton Foundation Exhibition Catalog, 1989; reprint 1995.

As far as Dali exhibition catalogs are concerned, one thing is certain: Stratton Foundation publications do not disappoint.  I absolutely love this catalog.

It is a lengthy 261 pages and is filled with stunning full-page color photos of Dali sculptures, and generously-sized color reproductions of a number of illustration suites (etchings, lithographs, watercolors, dry-points, engravings, etc.), and much more.

You'll also find a number of unique photos of Dali at work and at play, a section of objects made of gold, and a section of works titled "anamorphoses."  These latter works appear distorted until viewed in the reflection of a round tube strategically placed on top of the work.  I remember seeing some of these in person at the museum in Figueres back in 1995.

Some of the illustration suites reproduced in this catalog are:
  • Don Quichotte (1957, 12 lithographs);
  • Le Tricorne (1959, 20 wood engravings);
  • La Vida es Sueno (1975, 16 watercolors);
  • Casanova (1967, 14 lithographs);
  • Le Marquis de Sade (1968, 25 lithographs);
  • Alice in Wonderland (1969, 13 engravings);
  • Gargantua and Pantagruel (1973, 25 lithographs);
  • Moses and Monotheism (1974, 10 lithograph-ethings);
... and many more.

There are also several short essays written by Dali scholars such as Albert Field, Reynolds Morse, and Beniamino Levi.

This is one catalog that you don't want to pass by, especially if you don't have any Stratton catalogs in your collection.  These people really put out a superb product.

You might be able to find one of these for under $20, especially if you wait it out for a rare auction, otherwise you might have to shell out about $40 for this catalog.  You definitely need one of these, so happy hunting!


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