A whimsical tribute to Salvador Dalí’s centennial birth in 2004. Salvador Dalí, perhaps the most influential Spanish surrealist, is best known for his striking, unique, and at times captivatingly bizarre paintings. To mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, Montblanc is dedicating an edition of unique writing utensils to this unforgettable artist – the “A Tribute to Salvator Dali” Limited Edition.
Salvator Felipe Jacinto Dali’ y Domenech was born in Figueres, Spain (1904-1989), the son of a notary. Encouraged by a friend of the family, he discovered his love of art and his exeptional painting talent while still at school. Having obtained his school-leaving certificate, he entrolled at the famous Academy of San Ferdinando in 1922 to study art. During the course of the next few years, Dali’ proceeded to perfect his different techniques, but he refused to sit the final examination on the graunds that he did not consider the professors sufficiently competent to judge his accomplishment. The successes he amassed upon graduating from the Academy proved him right. On a visit to Paris in 1929, Dali’ made the aquaitance of Gala Eluard who, married and 10 years his senior, was to become his companion and, above all, his muse and source of inspiration. It was thanks to her support that Dali’ achieved his breakthrough as one of the world’s greatest Surrealist artist, who was decorated for his work with the highest honour awarded in Spain, the Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III.
Salvador Dali’ died on January 1989. His remains were laid to rest in the Teatro-Museo Dali’ de Figueras, which he himself created as his greatest Surrealist work.
Today Dali’ is considered one of the most important Surrealist artist. The year 1929 was decisive in the life of the painter. In collaboration with the filmmaker Luis Bunuel, he showed the film “Un chien andalou” in Paris, a film which served as a letter of introduction to the artistic and cultural circles of Paris and which assured his place in the group of Surrealists led by André Breton. During the early thirties Dali’ discovered his own style, his own particular language and form of expression which were always to remain with him and, although his style would continue to change and develop, were what deep down we are familiar with and which so clearly distinguishes him – a mixture of avant-garde and tradition. Like the artists of the Renaissance, Dali’ was not content to limit himself to a single medium of artistic expression. He branched out, turning into a multi-faceted artist – painter, writer, cartoonist, sculptor, designer, stage designer, illustrator, filmmaker – In all these manifestations, he is Dali’.
Limited Edition 100
Inspired by the lines of perspective that are typical for Dali’s works of art, a wavy guilloche pattern accentuates, the tapering barrel of the 750 white and yellow gold fountain pen. The lines represent the perspective lines that are so typical of Dalí. Particularly striking, however, is the skeletonized cap (with the letters “D A L I” spelled out in diamonds within the scrolls) and the clip, both of which are typical elements in Dalí’s works. The clip of the fountain pen takes the form of a fork, a characteristic feature of many of his paintings, topped with a finely crafted wheel – the wheel on the clip is rotatable. The Montblanc star in mother-of-pearl puts the finishing touch to the cone of the skeleton overlay cap, engraved with a filigree replica of Dali’s signature. With the masterfully worked portrait of Salvator Dali’ on the 18-carat gold nib and a limited edition of 100 pieces designed to commemorate the centennial of his birth this year, this edition pays tribute to an immortal artist.
Launch 2004
Limitation:
Fountain Pens 100
