A 16-color workshop lithograph on Arches Velin paper,
framed, dimensions 75 x 93 cm
limited edition, numbered in pencil 55/300 l.d
Signed in pencil by the artist in the lower right corner
Publisher: Atelier Mourlot;
(edition of 300 copies. Salvador Dalí’s lithographs, with print runs of up to 300 copies, were produced mainly between 1957 and 1980 at Atelier Mourlot and were personally supervised and signed by Dalí).
References:
*Catalogue des lithographies de Salvador Dalí*, compiled by Art Graphic International, Paris
The lithograph presented here is distinguished by its exceptional technical complexity. To achieve such a rich color palette, the work required the preparation of as many as 16 separate plates and sixteen precise passes of the paper through the printing press (minor plate shifts are visible).
The work “The Temptation of St. Anthony” is one of Salvador Dalí’s most famous works, painted in 1946. It is a magnificent example of his mature surrealist style, full of symbolism, fantastical elements, and technical mastery.
Dalí created this painting for a contest organized in 1946 by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio, whose goal was to select a work of art depicting the temptation of St. Anthony for Albert Lewin’s film *The Private Affairs of Bel Ami*, based on the novel by Guy de Maupassant. Interestingly, Max Ernst won the competition.
The theme of the temptation of St. Anthony had been popular in art for centuries, and Dalí approached it in his own unique way, drawing inspiration from his own obsessions, dreams, and psychoanalysis. In the foreground, we see a solitary St. Anthony, kneeling in prayer in the desert. His figure is naked and emaciated, which emphasizes his asceticism and spiritual struggle. In his right hand he holds a cross, a symbol of faith and protection.
From beyond the horizon emerges a procession of fantastical, distorted creatures approaching him, symbolizing temptations: An elephant on long, spider-like legs: This is the most distinctive element of the painting. The elephant is a symbol of strength and desire. On its back is an obelisk, which may symbolize phallic power and domination.
A slender woman: The naked woman on the elephant’s back represents carnal, sensual temptation. Horses with distorted legs: These animals, symbolizing power and impulsiveness, are also depicted in an unnatural way, which heightens the impression of a nightmare.
The entire scene unfolds against a backdrop of a harsh, rocky landscape typical of Dalí’s visions. The desert setting emphasizes St. Anthony’s isolation and loneliness in his struggle. The sky is dark and stormy, adding drama and tension.
Salvador Dalí’s painting titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony” is housed at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique) in Brussels, Belgium.
