The Dalí Museum in Florida acquires Salvador Dalí's largest work of art.

Amajor acquisition strengthens the collection of The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg , Florida, U.S., which was awarded what is described as the greatest work by Salvador Dalí (Figueres, 1904 - 1989) during the Surrealist auction last March 26 organized by Bonhams in Paris. The sale’s top lot, Bacchanale, made in 1939 and from an important private collection, was auctioned on March 26 for 254,400 euros at the Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr venue.

Catalyzing the attention, however, was Bacchanale, considered, as mentioned, to be Dalí’s greatest work ever: it was executed, notably, for the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The work began as a theatrical set design and is composed of thirteen canvases, configuring itself as a monumental construction, a complex work that combines painting, set design and performance vision, reflecting the idea of the “total work” pursued by the Catalan artist.

Dalí called it his first “paranoid-critical ballet,” a work in which he poured all his ideas about a total work of art: he wrote the libretto and designed the set and costumes. The premiere took place on November 9, 1939, at the Metropolitan Opera. Key figures on the international stage collaborated in the creation of the ballet: Léonide Massine, choreographer and director of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, and Coco Chanel, who designed some of the costumes and accessories. The score was an adaptation of the overture from Wagner’s Tannhäuser. Dalí created the sketch between March and May 1939, and the set design was meticulously created between late May and August 1939 in the atelier of the Ballets Russes in Monte Carlo, under the direction of Alexandre Schervachidze. The artist personally supervised the main details of the final curtain and background, incorporating fanciful elements such as a faceless reclining woman, a motif also present in his 1939 painting L’Énigme sans fin. Despite complications arising from the European conflict (Dalí could not attend and Chanel refused to send his work) the premiere was a success.

Bacchanale is a monumental construction: 13 large panels with a backdrop and four sets of canvases, with a total area of more than 20 by 30 meters, making it the largest work painted by Dalí, made with canvases painted with almost photographic precision and with three-dimensional elements. The central motif is the Mount of Venus, superimposed on a large swan, a symbol of sin and desire, originally built on a now-lost wooden structure. The artist did not limit himself to the set design, but also edited the libretto, as well as devising costumes and overall visual layout.

Despite difficulties related to the European historical context, now marked by the approaching conflict, and the absence of Dalí himself at the premiere, the play’s debut on November 9, 1939, at the Metropolitan Opera proved a success. Coco Chanel also refused to send the planned costumes, adding an additional element of complexity to the production.

According to Emilie Millon, International Director of Bonhams’ Impressionist & Modern Art department, Bacchanale represents an exceptional set design in terms of history and complexity, capable of captivating audiences for nearly ninety years. The sale to the Dalí Museum, following the work’s exhibition in the auction house’s Paris spaces, confirms the work’s historical and artistic value.

The museum’s executive director, Hank Hine, also stressed that the acquisition reinforces the institution’s commitment to preserving and enhancing Dalí’s legacy through dynamic and curated exhibitions. Because of its size and immersive nature, the work will expand the ways in which the public can enjoy it, offering a new perspective on the artist’s output.

The Dalí Museum in Florida acquires Salvador Dalí's largest work of art.

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