This month marks an exciting event in the art world as Salvador Dalí's largest painting, a stunning stage set measuring 65 by 100 feet, is set to be auctioned in Paris. This remarkable piece, originating from a private collection, will headline Bonhams' fourth annual Surrealism sale on March 26. The estimated value for this iconic work ranges from €200,000 to €300,000 (approximately $236,000 to $350,000).
Dalí created this 13-panel masterpiece for the Surrealist ballet "Bacchanale," for which he also penned the libretto. The production, staged by the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo, saw collaboration with luminaries such as choreographer Léonide Massine, fashion icon Coco Chanel, who contributed to costume design, and the legendary scenographer Prince Alexandre Schervachidze, who managed the set's production in Monte Carlo.
The ballet premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in November 1939. Although Dalí could not attend due to the ongoing war in Europe, and Chanel withdrew her costumes, the performance received a warm reception and went on to tour across the United States.
Dalí, a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement, is renowned for his hyperrealistic paintings and unique creations, such as the infamous 1938 Lobster Telephone. He described "Bacchanale" as his first paranoiac-critical ballet, a term he coined to describe his innovative method of inducing a state of paranoid delusion to inspire his artistic vision.
The set is painted with incredible detail, featuring a central depiction of Mount Venus, surrounded by the Ampurdan Plain, a rocky landscape near Dalí's birthplace in Spain. In the background, a temple reminiscent of Raphael's The Marriage of the Virgin can be seen, adding depth to this extraordinary piece.
In addition to Dalí's work, the auction will showcase pieces from other European Surrealist masters, including Leonor Fini, Valentine Hugo, Jane Graverol, André Masson, Man Ray, and Francis Picabia. Notable highlights include Graverol's Tête en l'air, estimated at $30,000 to $45,000, and a collection of 11 works by Picabia, featuring La Polonaise, a 1940 oil painting from Olga Picabia's collection, valued at $230,000 to $350,000.
