Arachne; Purgatory Canto 17

Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989, Spanish) “Arachne” (circa 1952 – 1963) illustration of Purgatory Canto 17, (‘Quittant la Corniche de la Colère’) ‘Leaving the Ridge of Anger’ from Dante Alighieri’s (1265-1321, Italy) masterpiece, “La Divina Comedia” (The Divine Comedy) written in 1307. Color woodblock engraving with the artist’s name in red block within the design. The image measures approximately 10 x 7 inches and the work of art has been matted and placed in a gold toned frame measuring 21 x 18 inches. Not examined outside the frame.

Dalí’s depiction of Arachne, who appears in Purgatorio 12 as an example of foolish pride, is similar to the illustration of the same scene by Gustave Doré (ca. 1855.) The story comes from ‘Metamorphoses’ by Ovid. Arachne is engaged in a weaving contest with Minerva (Greek counterpart is Athena), the goddess of handicraft and wisdom. Arachne’s weaving is without fault. Unable to handle her defeat, Minerva transforms her rival, Arachne, into a spider.

References for this image: “The Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali by Albert Field” (pages 189 - 202) and in Michler/Lopsinger Catalogue Raisonné of Lithographs and Wood Engravings (pages 102 - 114); Michler/Lopsinger 1089.

Salvador Dali painted 101 watercolors (1950 - 1959) illustrating each of the 100 cantos of Dante’s masterpiece plus one title page. The watercolors were later used as studies for woodcut engravings made from approximately 3500 wood blocks (1959 and 1963) created by Raymond Jacquet assisted by Jean Taricco and Paul Massin, published by the French editor Joseph Foret between 1959 and 1963, in collaboration with Éditions d’Art Les Heures Claires. Dali’s illustrations accompanied the text of Dante’s book in the French language.