Salvador DaliWoman with a Head of Roses. Femme a la Tete de Roses. 1981

Sculpture in bronze and plastic on the original electrified metal base. 1981. Hand signed with the incised signature. Stamped as 'E.A.' - artist's proof apart from the issued edition.

Provenance: Collection Mr Boling Cheng, New York. (Mr Cheng was a photographer who worked for Dali in the 1070's-80's. He was also an independent art dealer in New York at that period.) This sculpture was acquired directly from Dali and the Foundry where it was created. The bronze was cast at the Bonvicini Foundry in Verona, 1981. The edition was issued by Galerie Art 204, Paris 1981.

Literature: This sculpture is recorded and listed in Robert Descharnes' catalogue of Dali's three-dimensional works as No 684.

The Bronze was  cast at the Bonvicini Foundry, Verona.1981. Edition issued by Galerie Art 204, Paris. 1981.

Note: This cast of the bronze has been stored in the original shape-formed cardboard and plastic packing box ever since it was cast. The box has the label from the Bonvicini Foundry. It is in pristine condition and has the original electrified display stand which can illuminate the perspex staff held by the figure.

Height:  85 cm. Base: 52.5 x 35 cm.  Height: 33 1/2 ins. Base: 20 3/4 x 133/4 ins.

An exceptionally fine example of this dramatic and rarely seen

work. It is one of the largest scale bronze works that Dali created. Very few

examples of this work have appeared on the market in recent times. The issued

edition of this bronze is recorded as 99 examples. But based on sale records it

seems likely that the proposed edition was never fully cast.

This cast of the ‘Woman with a Head of Roses’ is a proof cast

before the edition.

The

figure in this bronze must be considered as inspired by Dali’s vision of his

wife Gala. Gala was first married to the surrealist poet Paul Eluard. Her

unmarried name was Elena Diakonova and she was notably intelligent qualifying very

young as a lawyer. In 1929 she met Dali when he and Eluard were working

together in connection with a film that Dali had created working with Bunuel.

From the moment Dali met Gala he was completely obsessed and he bought the

castle at Bubol in Spain for her as her domain (It is now the famous Dali

Museum).

Dali

was always nervous that he would lose such an intellectually inspired muse and

there is perhaps an expression of that nervousness in the mysterious pair of

hands holding her shoulder in this bronze. The pattern of roses which decorates

the figures head is a symbol of Dali’s unfailing love for Gala, a love which

endured throughout their life together.

Further images of this outstanding sculpture, with differing viewpoints, are available on request. Please email us to see these images - ww@:williamweston.co.uk