Hell Canto 25 Appraisal

Salvador Dalí, The Divine Comedy: Hell Canto 25 (The Centaur Nessus)

This artwork appears to be a color woodcut or lithograph on paper, specifically identified as an illustration from Salvador Dalí's 'The Divine Comedy' series, created circa 1960-1964. The central image depicts a muscular, distorted nude figure from the back, rendered in a muted palette of grays, tans, and flesh tones with a striking black hand or silhouette emerging from the shoulder area. The print features the characteristic soft, watercolor-like washes and surrealist anatomic distortions synonymous with Dalí's interpretation of Dante's text. There is a visible graphite signature in the lower right corner, typical of Dalí's hand-signed limited editions. The piece is housed in an ornate, multi-tiered gold-gilt frame with a dark, textured inner border (possibly black velvet or textured fabric) and a white mat with a gold fillet. The framing style is highly decorative, consistent with late 20th-century gallery presentation. No significant foxing or water damage is visible on the paper from this perspective, though there is a slight shadow suggesting a minor ripple in the paper mounting. The craftsmanship of the print demonstrates high-quality color registration and delicate tonal transitions, marking it as a professional fine art publication from the mid-century modern period.