2 August 2022 — 7 May 2023

After meeting with Pope Pius XII in 1949, Salvador Dali received permission from the Holy See to depict the Immaculate Conception. This is how one of his masterpieces appeared, the "Madonna of Port-Ligat". The Italian government was stunned by the Pope's blessing, as Dali was known to the public for his atheistic and nihilistic views. When Dali received such recognition, It did not hesitate to offer the artist to illustrate the cultural treasure of Italy, The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

The Italian Parliament was buzzing with disputes whether the idea of the Spanish surrealist illustrating one of the prominent catholic texts should be implemented. The National Library of Italy, which had already signed a contract with Dali, faced a choice between a reputational scandal and a refusal to cooperate with the famous surrealist. Eventually, it chose the latter.

Nevertheless, Dali did not abandon this idea. He became emotionally attached to the poem and its characters. This time he contacted the French publisher Joseph Foret. The illustrated bool was published 12 years after the artist signed the contract with the publishing company Editions d'art Les Heures Claires.

What happened as a result of this cooperation, is now showcased in our museum in the exhibition "Salvador Dali. The Divine Comedy".