Salvador Dalí was one of the most famous artists of the 20th century and a beloved son of Catalonia. He is remembered for his bizarre, wonderful and, sometimes, frightening surrealist paintings and sculptures, his beautiful jewellery and his larger than life personality.
An eccentric dresser and an attention-seeking character fond of stunts that attracted public notice, his life was just as colourful as his work. In fact, even his death was dramatic, as he was laid to rest in a crypt below a stage in a theatre and museum that is dedicated to him in home town of Figueres, in Catalonia, Spain.
The museum in question, Figueres' Dalí Museum, was the town's historic theatre that he knew growing up and where one of the first public exhibitions of young Dalí's art was shown. It was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and rebuilt in the 1960s as a museum dedicated to the city's most famous son. It was then reopened as a museum in the 70s and expanded in the 80s.
An eccentric dresser and an attention-seeking character fond of stunts that attracted public notice, his life was just as colourful as his work. In fact, even his death was dramatic, as he was laid to rest in a crypt below a stage in a theatre and museum that is dedicated to him in home town of Figueres, in Catalonia, Spain.
The museum in question, Figueres' Dalí Museum, was the town's historic theatre that he knew growing up and where one of the first public exhibitions of young Dalí's art was shown. It was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and rebuilt in the 1960s as a museum dedicated to the city's most famous son. It was then reopened as a museum in the 70s and expanded in the 80s.
Housed inside it the single largest and most diverse collection of works by Salvador Dalí, the core of which comes from the artist's personal collection. On display are sculptures, 3-dimensional collages, paintings, mechanical devices and other forms of works from all across his career. There is also a small collection of works by other artists that were collected by Dalí, including pieces by El Greco, Bougereau, Marcel Duchamp and John de Andrea as well as a second-floor gallery that is entirely dedicated to the work of his friend and fellow Catalan artist Antoni Pitxot, (who became director of the museum after Dalí's death), as dictated by Dalí himself.
Dalí also designed the museum himself, though the architects in charge were Joaquim de Ros i Ramis and Alexandre Bonaterra, saying: “I want my museum to be a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object. It will be [a] totally theatrical museum. The people who come to see it will leave with the sensation of having had a theatrical dream.”
Dalí also designed the museum himself, though the architects in charge were Joaquim de Ros i Ramis and Alexandre Bonaterra, saying: “I want my museum to be a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object. It will be [a] totally theatrical museum. The people who come to see it will leave with the sensation of having had a theatrical dream.”
Despite the protests of his wife, Gala, he insisted that the museum be built in his hometown and that he be buried there and today it remains as a grand testament to his life and work.
While many iconic works are elsewhere, this museum offers a wonderful insight into the entirety of his career and presents them as he himself intended and desired. It is an extraordinary space and experience and one of the most truly unique and magical art galleries in the world. Just find a vacation rental in Barcelona, hop a train to Figueres and spend a day exploring this incredible cultural institution.
While many iconic works are elsewhere, this museum offers a wonderful insight into the entirety of his career and presents them as he himself intended and desired. It is an extraordinary space and experience and one of the most truly unique and magical art galleries in the world. Just find a vacation rental in Barcelona, hop a train to Figueres and spend a day exploring this incredible cultural institution.