Salvador Dalí is one of the most famous and controversial artists of the 20th century.
His unique style, characterised by its dreamlike quality and Surrealist imagery, has made him one of the most recognisable artists in history.
Here are ten fun facts about Salvador Dalí:
1. Salvador Dalí was born on May 11, 1904 in Figueres, Spain.
2. His full name was Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech.
3. Dalí’s older sister, Anna Maria, died when he was just five years old. This event had a profound effect on him and would later be reflected in his artworks which often feature images of death and decay.
4. In 1922, Dalí enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid where he studied under Spanish painter Antonio López García. It was here that he developed his distinctive style which blended elements of Realism with Surrealism.
5. In 1929, Dalí met Gala Eluard – the love of his life and future wife – who inspired many of his works including the painting “Soft Watches” (1933).
6. During the 1930s, Dalí became increasingly involved with the Surrealist movement and began to experiment with film and photography as well as painting; he even collaborated with legendary filmmaker Luis Buñuel on two short films: “Un Chien Andalou” (1929) and “L’Age d’Or” (1930).
7. In 1934, Dalí painted one of his most famous works: “The Persistence of Memory” which features melting clocks in a desert landscape. This painting is now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
8. In 1940, Dalí and Gala moved to the United States where he became friends with many Hollywood celebrities including Walt Disney (with whom he worked on an animated short film called “Destino”).
9. In 1948, Dalí returned to Europe where he settled in Port Lligat, Spain. It was here that he created some of his most iconic paintings including “The Madonna of Port Lligat” (1950) and “Christ of Saint John of the Cross” (1951).
10. Salvador Dalí died on January 23, 1989 at the age of 84; he is buried next to Gala in their home in Port Lligat.
