Teach your children about one of the most famous figures in art history, Salvador Dalí. This free art lesson covers the basics of his creative output.
“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” ~Salvador Dali
Early Life
Salvador Dalí (pronunciation) was born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain on May 11, 1904. He was a precocious child and showed great artistic talent at an early age. His mother was a warm and understanding woman who encouraged her son’s artistic endeavors, and the two were very close.
As a child, Salvador’s parents took him to the cemetery to visit his brother’s grave. His older brother had died nine months before Salvador’s birth, and he was deeply affected by this brother he never knew.
Salvador Dali’s Education
Dalí began drawing classes at the age of eight; however, he was not diligent with his studies, preferring instead to daydream or take part in extracurricular activities. In 1916, his father enrolled him in the prestigious San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he studied traditional academic painting styles. However, Dalí disliked the strict regimentation of the academy and frequently skipped classes to wander the streets of Madrid or visit the Prado Museum, as he was particularly fascinated by the work of Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya.
In 1921, Dalí’s mother died of cancer, which had a profound effect on the young artist. He became depressed and withdrawn, and his grades at the academy suffered. However, he persevered with his studies and eventually graduated from the academy in 1926.
Salvador Dali Career
Dalí’s early paintings were influenced by the Post-Impressionists, particularly Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. He also showed an interest in Cubism and Surrealism, but he did not fully embrace these styles until later in his career.
In 1929, he met Gala Eluard, who became his muse, and the two were eventually married.
In 1930, Dalí exhibited his painting “Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War)” at the International Surrealist Exhibition in Paris. The painting was an expression of his fear and horror at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. That same year, Dalí published his first book, “Inaugural Speech of the Missionary Salvador Dalí .”
Dalí’s style continued to evolve in the 1930s, as he incorporated elements of Surrealism, Cubism, and Fauvism. His work became increasingly commercialized in the 1950s, as he began to sell his paintings to wealthy American collectors. He also designed sets and costumes for several operas, ballets, and films. In 1954, he published his autobiography, “The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí.”
Salvador Dali Death
In the 1960s, Dalí’s health began to decline, and he suffered from heart disease and anxiety. He retreated to his home in Catalonia, and his output decreased. In 1973, Gala Eluard died, which further affected Dalí’s mental state. He became increasingly reclusive in the following years.
Dalí died of heart failure on January 23, 1989. He was buried in a crypt beneath the Museum of Dalí in Figueres, Catalonia. However his work continues to influence artists and thinkers worldwide, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential artists of the Surrealist movement.
The Dali Legacy: How an Eccentric Genius Changed the Art World and Created a Lasting Legacy
DalíDalí. The PaintingsJust Being Dalí: The Story of Artist Salvador Dalí
For more project ideas, check out these Salvador Dali-inspired art projects here:
Dali: The Man of Many Moustaches by Anne Farrell
Dali’s Surreal Elephants by Plateau Art Studio
Salvador Dali Inspired Paper Plate Melting Clocks by The Pinterested Parent
Silly Pictures by Raising Arizona Kids
