The story of how one of the largest, most significant collections of Salvador Dali works outside of Figueres, Spain (his birthplace, his burial site, and home of the largest Dali museum in the world) ended up in…of all places…Saint Petersburg, FL is fascinating! More detailed information about this story and the museum itself can be found on their website. However, the seed of the collection and this story began with Cleveland, OH residents A. Reynolds and his wife, Eleanor Morse.
In 1942, they visited the Cleveland Museum of Art (subject of a future blog ;)) to see a traveling exhibit of Dali works on loan from the Museum of Modern Art and were fascinated by what they saw. They purchased their first painting, Daddy Longlegs of the Evening, Hope! (1940) around a year later (her father thought they were crazy) then met Salvador and Gala (his wife and muse) Dali in New York City not long after in 1943. The Morses were among the first Americans to buy Dali works, and this purchase began both a professional and personal relationship that would last the rest of their lives.
Images of The Dali
The Morses began to first show their paintings in their home, but their collection grew to a point where that was no longer feasible. They established a museum in Cleveland; however, when the Morses decided to retire to the Florida Gulf Coast, they took their collection with them and is now housed in the GORGEOUS building that make up part of the museum’s beautiful property.
Images of the of The Dali property
When most people think of Dali, they think of melting clocks, ants, and other “out there” images. However, he was a naturally very gifted and talented painter who had more traditional beginnings. I remember being FLOORED at seeing this simple painting of a basket of bread during my first visit there; it is photographic quality.
Not only does the Dali Museum house thousands of works by Salvador Dali, but they also frequently collaborate with institutions all over the world to bring special exhibits and shows there. It was at the Dali where I saw my first Frida Kahlo paintings in person; I will never forget that experience. Through exhibits at the Dali, I’ve also been privileged to see works in person by Marcel Duchamp and Rene Magritte.
Frida at The Daili
Duchamp at The Dali
Magritte at The Dali
If you are a Dali fan but don’t have a passport to go to Spain, don’t worry! The Dali Museum in Saint Petersburg, FL will give you your Dali fill AND THEN SOME. I cannot recommend it more highly.
Comments