Dali (World of Art) [Paperback]

Dawn Ades (Author)

Book Description

Series: World of Art | Publication Date: May 1995

This study of Salvador Dali's work asks what accounts for his popularity as an artist. Is it the accessibility of his imagery or his talent as a self-publicist?

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Almost half Dalí's illustrations in this book have rarely been seen

This publication presents in 2 volumes in a box the entire painted oeuvre of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989). After many years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Néret finally located all the paintings of this highly prolific artist. Many of the works had been inaccessible for years - in fact so many that almost half the illustrations in this book have rarely been seen. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; Rev Upd Su edition (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 050020280X
• ISBN-13: 978-0500202807
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Surrealism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riding Dali's Roller-Coaster, February 22, 2005

By 

Ralph J. Bellantoni "RJB" (Joisey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dali (Hardcover)

As a college art major I developed a distaste for Dali and his art, even referring to him as a "pimp" in an essay. I was turned off by his commercialism and his overly-polished style. But over the years my opinion began to shift, and the major retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art has completely renovated my appreciation for the man and his art.

This huge and handsome tome is the catalogue for the Philly retrospective, and includes hundreds of color images along with insights into the thought behind the imagery. The book takes you through his youthful experiments in post-impressionism and cubism (there are a few works you'd swear were by Picasso!), into his affiliation with Surrealism, his development of his personal "paranoiac-critical" method, and his later interests in physics and conversion to Catholicism. The middle section of the book and exhibit includes hundreds of his best-known and most widely-admired paintings, but surprises abound in the early and later sections, with works most people never knew he created.

What struck me most in the show and the book was how thoroughly dedicated Dali was to his art, and how intellectually involved his work was. His draughtsmanship was also so acute as to defy belief. I realize now that I was sold so completely on his posture as an eccentric personality, that I lost sight of the power of his art. But this show and book reveal how truly special and significant Dali was as an artist, art theorist, and explorer of the hinterlands of the mind and soul.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything You Want From Dali and More, February 27, 2003

By 

James M. Hatch - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dali: The Paintings (Midi) (Paperback)

This book is the definitive look at Dali. I own a few other of his books but this one blows the out of the water. The only negative aspect about the book really comes down to my opinion. Some of my favorite paintings are fitted onto a page with 3 others making them a little difficult to see the extreme detail. While others get their own page but in my humble opinion didn't deserve it. While reading or just skimming through the paintings its awesome all the way through. The book is in chronological order so you can see his progress throughout his life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you don't like Dali's style, there is so much in here that you'll find something. I've spent dozens of hours looking through it, finding something new each time.

42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of Dali, December 31, 2001

By 

Charles Pinney (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dali: The Paintings (Midi) (Paperback)

While it may be hard to get a hold of here at Amazon, "Dali: The Paintings" is worthwhile in searching for. I found it at a local bookstore and snatched it up immediately. It's a gorgeous book at nearly 800 pages. It has a black cover with a classic image of Dali and his mustache ends sticking straight up on the cover.

The real meat of the book is the paintings, drawings, and sketches. Over 1600 of them to be exact, almost all of them produced in vivid color. The book progresses year to year, giving a glimpse into Dali's changing techniques and styles. Thoughtful commentary by Robert Descharnes and Gilles Neret compliment the works of art.

Overall this is one of the best and most comprehensive Dali books around. A must for any serious Dali fan, or even the casual admirer.