SALVADOR DALI: THE DIVINE COMEDY, HEAVEN CANTO 2,  "THE ANGEL" WITH A BROKEN WING

A RARE COPPER PLATE ETCHING APART FROM THE WOODCUT EDITION

THIS IS A SALVADOR DALI PLATE SIGNED ETCHING FROM THE DIVINE COMEDY AS ISSUED FROM A LIMITED EDITION.  THIS FINE ART IS AUTHENTICATED IN THE ALBERT FIELD CATALOG REFERENCE PAGES 189-200 AND MICHLER AND LOPSINGER DALI CATALOG RAISONNES REFERENCE CODE 1107.

This rare copper plate Etching is in black ink on BFK Rives watermarked paper and is signed by Dali in the plate.  This etching is not a woodcut or wood block print.  Dali issued a rare copper etching of each of the Divine Comedy images as a bonus for a small number of special friends of Dali and important Divine Comedy art collectors.  This edition of copper etchings was limited to only 165 sets.  Moreover, these were the first 165 sets which had special features which includes being signed in the plate matrix.  In fact, the first 21 sets actually had an original Divine Comedy watercolor by Dali included. The entire tirage outstanding for the Divine Comedy is 8534 sets per the Field and Michler/Lopsinger Catalog Raisonnes.  There is also an ink hand signature in the lower right quadrant which is signed "Dali".  The Michler and Lopsinger Catalog Raisonne states that Dali hand signed a small number of prints for friends and associates.  However, the raisonnes do not reference that Dali ever specifically hand signed any of these copper plate etchings.  Although the signature resembles the exact way the Dali would have signed his name during this era, because of the lack of provenance and lack of confirmation from any catalogs, unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that Dali signed this etching.  However, I can confirm that the vast amount of forged Divine Comedy signatures that are on the market do not resemble this ink nor this style of signature.  Therefore, this signature has not been forged by the "usual suspects" who forge Divine Comedy woodcuts.  Moreover, I can guarantee the authenticity of this etching coming from the early edition from 1960 published by Joseph Foret and Les Heures Claires. The platemark is 10 1/2 x 8  inches and overall paper size is 12 3/4 x 10 inches. The condition is very good. This artwork has a good, clean image with sharp and strong inking. There is evenly distributed time and light aging. There is a light ink mark in the lower left quadrant and does not affect the image. The provenance is from an estate sale in Northern California near the Oakland Hills.

Thank you for your business,

Regards,

 Laurent Ashton