La Divina Commedia

by Dante Alighieri (Italian, 1265-1321), illustrated by Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904-1989), Roma/Firenze (Rome/Florence): Arti e Scienze Salani, 1963-1964, six volumes (complete), one of 2,900 from a total circulation of 3,044, part of a series printed by the Valdonega Printing House in Verona, on handmade paper by the Magnani Brothers of Pescia, containing 100 color illustrations by Dalí, text in Italian, individual prints laid into text portfolio, all housed in matching gilt decorated slipcases and chemises - Note: In commemoration of the 700th anniversary of the birth of Dante Alighieri, the Italian government commissioned the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí to illustrate the poet's Divine Comedy. However, the controversial nature of Dalí's selection as the artist to undertake the project ultimately led to the cancellation of his contract and planned exhibition. Inspired by Dante's work and unwilling to abandon the project, Dalí instead partnered with the French publisher Joseph Forêt, and in 1960 exhibited the series of 100 watercolors at the at the Museum Galliera in Paris. - Provenance: Private North Carolina Collection
Condition Report: near fine slipcases and chemises, one with bumped edge; some plates lightly foxed or toned in margins, Paradiso vol. 2 plates 20 and 30 out of order but present