Salvador Dali (1904 - 1989), The Deceivers - "Divine Comedy" Canto XXII Inferno

Lithograph, dimensions: 56 x 39 cm in light passe - partout of 72 x 54 cm, limited edition of 500 pieces, Arches velin paper, each print is individually numbered in pencil l.d.: 120 /500 and signed with a facsimile of Dali's signature under the composition, dry seal - Certified Dali Dalart NV, Copyright 1981 l.d, on the reverse the seal of the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation; original certificate.

Salvador Dali's composition titled "The Cheaters," also known under the other titles "Liars" and "Embezzlers."
was created as part of a series of works inspired by " The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. Dali in 1951 received a
commission from the Italian government to create 100 illustrations depicting the various hellish, purgatorial and heavenly
visions described in this epic.
Song XXII of " Inferno" in Dante Alighieri's " Divine Comedy" continues the description of the journey of Dante and his guide
Virgil through the eighth circle of Hell, known as the "Malebolge" (Evil Pits). This circle is divided into ten bolgia,
or ditches, each of which is intended for a different kind of sinner. In the XXII song, the characters
reside in the fifth bolgia, where the souls of people who were crooks and cheated in business during their lifetime are housed.
The scene depicted is full of darkness and mystery, in which the characters - the souls of the damned - stand on a rock above the
abyss into which they must jump. The condemned are watched over by a group of devilish guards called Malebranche (Evil
Claws). Malebranche are portrayed in a grotesque, almost comical way, although their actions are brutal. W
this song a key role is played by devils, who mock souls and take pleasure in their suffering.
Song XXII is the story of those who, while alive, deceived others for their own gain, and now suffer for eternity in the
hot tar, which is an allegory of hidden, dark activities that bring them eternal punishment.
Salvador Dali's illustrations to Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" have won both acclaim and sparked
controversy internationally. The project was designed to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Dante's birth and
was initially commissioned by the Italian government in 1950. The decision to have Dali, a Spanish surrealist,
illustrate a work considered the foundation of Italian literature, was met with mixed reactions.
After the decision to entrust Dali with this task was announced, protests erupted in Italy. Many critics believed,
that the illustration of the "Divine Comedy," such an important work in Italian literature, should have been commissioned to a native artist,
rather than a foreign artist. Dali, despite his fame, was a surrealist artist, which to many seemed
inappropriate in the context of Dante's classic work.
Due to this controversy, the Italian government eventually withdrew from the project. Nevertheless, Dali continued to work on the
illustrations, which were eventually published by a French publishing house. Despite the initial controversy, over
time, Dali's illustrations began to be appreciated for their uniqueness and bold interpretation. Dali created 100 watercolors, one
one for each song from " The Divine Comedy," which show not only the content of the poem, but also Dali's surreal vision of the
Dali's world.
Dali transformed Dante's medieval visions into his characteristic surrealist paintings, full of
distortions, strange forms and uncanny symbols. His works were a more psychological and subjective
interpretation of the " Divine Comedy" than a classical illustration. It was this innovative and personal style that gained him recognition among
art critics and collectors around the world.
Dali's illustrations have been exhibited in many prestigious exhibitions around the world, including art museums in the
United States, Europe and Asia. Over time, they have become some of his best-known graphic works.
With his surrealist approach to such a classic work as " The Divine Comedy," Dali entered the tradition of
of reinterpretation of canonical literary works by modern artists. Today, his illustrations to " The Divine
Comedy" are seen as a unique work of art that successfully combines the classics with modernity and
innovation.