Dali

170 illustrations, 28 in colour

Salvador Dali is perhaps the most universally famous and popular twentieth-century artist. What accounts for this popularity? Is it his excellence as an artist? The accessibility of his imagery? Or his genius as a self-publicist? In her sensitive and searching text, Dawn Ades considers some of the puzzling questions raised by the Dali phenomenon. His early years, the development of his technique and style, his relationship with the Surrealists, his exploitation of Freudian ideas, and the image which Dali has created of himself as the mad genius artist are all explored in this brilliant and thought-provoking study of one of the most controversial figures in modern art. ‘Mrs Ades one of our foremost historians of Surrealism.

has had access to her subject – a privilege available to few-and her book is particularly revealing’ (The Spectator) ‘A sensitive art-historical study’ (The Times Literary Supplement) ‘Richly documented and illustrated’ (Arts Review)