50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Salvador Dali (Author), Haakon M. Chevalier (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: June 4, 1992

Rare, important volume in which famed Surrealist expounds (in his inimitably eccentric fashion) on what painting should be, the history of painting, what is good and bad painting, the merits of specific artists, and more. Includes his 50 "secrets" for mastering the craft, including "the secret of the painter's pointed mustaches."

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 4, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486271323
• ISBN-13: 978-0486271323
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bizzaro entertaining beautifully illustrated some technique, December 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Not a practical guide (despite the title). Learn! How to sleep without sleeping, the correct way to point your mustache, how often to have sex with your wife and when, and a little note here and there on which colors to use and how to draw.

The best thing about this book are the illustrations (mostly pen and ink) which are amazing and reveal the true mastery of technique Dali had. He idolized Valasquez and thought his fellow modern artists were hacks. Picasso (fellow Spaniard) -- talented but misguided. Realism is the goal. That and flat paintings (look at the canvas at an angle to make sure your brush strokes aren't building up any ridges of paint).

Worth $10 fursure.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for just after you've gotten some basics, September 8, 2002

By 

Christo Bresnahan "sfchristo" (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

This is a book on oil painting which is peppered with Dalinian absurdities and illustrations.

I like Dali's writing personality. But if you don't find humor in it, then just skip to the useful parts such as underpainting. I started using his advice for under and over painting colors ('glazes') and the results are wonderful. (soon to be posted on my website) He spells out very clearly how to do this. This is information that is not really spelled out in other books. Check out the oil painting - "Galarina" - of his wife which is reproduced in the book. Hundreds of hours of work.

Amongst some humorous and impractical "secrets" - making medium out of wasps, et al - there is some really sound advice directly from a master. How much would you pay to get two or three private lessons from him?

Humor, unique illustrations, great advice: I think Dali's book is a great bargain. I almost didn't write this review so that I could keep it more to myself!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Esoteric, September 24, 2001

By 

"shaft69" (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

A unique tome, for sure. I find myself looking for tips from time-to-time - but keep in mind this book was written over fifty years ago and many of the materials that he uses are difficult to find, prohibitively expensive, or just plain wierd. And I love wierd. "the Slumber with a Key" is something I'll have to test someday, but I wonder if I'll ever have the time, space and inclination to construct a retrospective sequence of aranariums.
Of particular amusement is his "Dalinian Analysis" system of rating painters (he even rates himself) according to categories such as Genius, Composition, Mystery, Authenticity,etc. In short, he adores Raphael, Vermeer, and Velasquez; and chaffes at Picasso, Mondrian, and (with grace) really lets Cezanne have it, so to speak. Also amusing are the descriptions of various sympathy/antipathy relationships between counterparts found in nature.

A peculiar and inspiring work.