GOODBYE DALI Part 8: Have You Ever Been to Spain? (#91B):
My favorite stop in Madrid was, of course, the Museo Nacional del Prado. The Prado is the home of two paintings by Spanish master Diego Velázquez, who influenced Salvador Dali, “Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress” (1659) and “Las Lances, Surrender of Breda” (1634-35).
The Spanish Princess Margarita Teresa was married at the age of 15 to Holy Roman Emperor Leopold. She gave birth to four children, only one survived infancy, and had at least two miscarriages. She died at the age of 21.
“Las Lances, Surrender of Breda” depicts the capture of the city of Breda by the Spanish during the Eighty Years’ War, a conflict between Spain, which controlled the Low Countries, and the Dutch, who were fighting for political independence.
In anticipation of the 300th anniversary of the death Velázquez, Dali produced two Master Works based on these paintings by the artist he had admired since his youth.
The smaller of the two Master Works (over 5’ X 3’), is “Velázquez Painting the Infanta Margarita with the Lights and Shades of his own Glory” (1958). This was Eleanor Morse’s favorite, and at one time hung over her bed.
The larger of the two Master Works (over 14’ X 9’), is “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus” (1958-1959). This is one of my favorites, and like “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” must be seen in person to be appreciated.
A. Reynolds Morse (Ren) originated the term “Master Works” referring to paintings larger than five feet in height or width and painted over a period of a year or longer. In other words, they are both monumental in scale and critical Dali paintings.
Ren always told me there were 14 Master Works. The Dali Museum now owns eight of these Dalí Masterworks.
It is my understanding that another Master Work, measuring over 5’ X 4’, “Nature Morte Vivante (Still Life-Fast Moving)” (1956), once was hung in the bedroom of their son, Brad Morse. I wonder if Brad ever had nightmares involving a butcher knife?
