Salvador Dalí "Les Menines" (Maids of Honor)

Description

One of six lithographs from the series "Changes in Great Masterpieces" published by the Phyllis Lucas Gallery in 1974. Dalí … more One of six lithographs from the series "Changes in Great Masterpieces" published by the Phyllis Lucas Gallery in 1974. Dalí selected great paintings by Raphael, Rembrandt, Velasquez (two), Vermeer and of course himself, then made changes to encourage viewers to study and compare the original with his interpretation, hence the inclusion of a small facsimile of the original painting. Pencil signed and numbered. Sheet size: 33 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches.

"Les Menines" ("Maids of Honor), painted in 1656, is one of Velázquez’s greatest works of art. Measuring 10 1/2 x 9 feet, it is a large, stunning oil painting now in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The entire scene is painted looking at a mirror, and its complexity is remarkable: nearly life sized figures; the way the lighting was used; and the way the surrounding figures were painted. The illusion of reality is exceptional, one neither Velázquez nor his contemporaries ever came close to reproducing.

Salvador Dalí was simply one of the most famous and influential artists of the 20th century. Dalí's works were characterized by his unique and imaginative style, blending surrealism with meticulous attention to detail. His art often delved into the realms of dreams, the subconscious, and the irrational. He was deeply influenced by the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, which can be seen in his paintings that depict distorted, dreamlike landscapes and bizarre, melting objects.

Dalí was not only a painter but also a skilled printmaker, sculptor, writer, and filmmaker. In addition to his art, Dalí was known for his eccentric personality and flamboyant style. He became a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement, a group of artists who sought to explore the subconscious mind and challenge traditional artistic norms. Salvador Dalí passed away in 1989, but his legacy continues to be celebrated, and his influence on the art world remains significant.

Some of Salvador Dalí's most iconic paintings include: "The Persistence of Memory" (perhaps his most famous painting), "Swans Reflecting Elephants", and "The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus". Dalí was a prolific printmaker, with his most famous series of prints including "Biblia Sacra", "Divine Comedy", "Alice in Wonderland", "Changes in Great Masterpieces" and “The World Of Currier And Ives as interpreted by Salvador Dali”, the latter two series being published by the Phyllis Lucas Gallery.

Hudson-John Gallery Gallery is founded by a former Wall Street manager who gained his art experience under Michael Lucas of the renowned Phyllis Lucas Gallery, publisher of these and other Salvador Dalí lithographs, and those in our collection were obtained directly from the Phyllis Lucas Gallery after closing due the passing of Michael Lucas. less