Lucifer Appraisal

Salvador Dalí, The Divine Comedy: Purgatory Canto 9 'Lucifer' Woodcut

This item is a framed woodcut print on paper by the Spanish surrealist master Salvador Dalí, from his monumental 'Divine Comedy' suite. The artwork illustrates a scene from Dante Alighieri’s Purgatory, specifically the ninth Canto. Physically, the piece features a vibrant palette dominated by cerulean blue drapery against a stippled, golden-tan background. The composition depicts highly stylized, muscular figures rendered with Dalí's characteristic fluid lines. In the lower right corner of the paper, a hand-signed pencil signature by Salvador Dalí is visible. The piece is housed in a contemporary double-mat and a silver-toned metallic frame with a gold inner fillet, reflecting a late 20th-century professional framing style. The print itself appears to be in very good condition with no visible foxing, tears, or significant fading, though it should be examined out of the frame for paper acidity or hinges. This series was originally commissioned by the Italian government in the 1950s and completed in the early 1960s. The craftsmanship of the woodcut blocks, which required precise registration for multiple colors, represents a high point in 20th-century printmaking. Notable features include the delicate stippling used to create texture in the background and the dramatic, flowing movement of the blue cloth which frames the central figures.