Divine Comedy - On Geryon's Back

Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989, Spanish) “On Geryon’s Back” from the ‘Divine Comedy’ (1964) is an authentic unsigned wood block print in colors. The sheet measures 13 x 10.25 inches and it has been matted and framed measuring approximately 25 x 19 inches. This woodcut print has been authenticated, signed, numbered and stamped. [Note: The ink from the Authentication stamp on the verso of the art is slightly visible on the front.]

“On Geryon’s Back” depicts Dante and Virgil riding Geryon, a winged beast, down to the depths of the eighth circle of Hell: Fraud. - ‘See the savage beast, with the pointed tail, that crosses mountains, and pierces walls and armor: see him, who pollutes the whole world.’ It is one of the 100 Cantos: Inferno No. 17, The Usurers. Salvador Dali created 101 watercolor drawings interpreting the Divine Comedy book. These drawings were then reproduced by carving 3500 woodblocks over a period of three years to create the prints that make up the project. 34 separate woodblocks were used to create the final woodblock of “On Geryon’s Back’. Several versions of the Divine Comedy illustrated by Salvador Dali, in both French and German, have been published. REFERENCES : Field p. 189 à 200 / Michler & Lopsinger 1055