Artist: Salvador Dali (Spanish surrealist, 1904-1989) Title: Hell Canto 8 Year : 1963 Medium: Woodcut Edition: From the original French edition of 4765 Paper: B.F.K Rives (some with "Les Heures Claires " watermark Image (block mark) size: 10 x 6.75 inches paper size: 13 x 10.25 inches Signature: Unsigned as issue Publisher: Les Heures Claires, Paris and Jean Estrade Printer: Atelier Rigal Condition: Excellent Frame Framed in a custom wooden gold frame, with fabric matting and gold color bevel Description: From the suite, The Divine Comedy. Catalogue raisonne by Albert Field Page 189 to 200 and Michler Lopsinger Page 102 to 114. The size including frame is 23.25 x 20 inches. This artwork is from the original French edition of 4765, not from the signed in the block edition printed later. ABOUT THE DIVINE COMEDY The Divine Comedy suite consists of 100 color wood engravings created between 1960 and 1964 after 100 watercolors painted by Salvador Dali between 1951 and 1960. More than 3,000 blocks were necessary to complete the engraving process. In the early 1950’s Salvador Dali was invited by the Italian government to commemorate the birth of Dante, Italy’s most famous poet, by producing a series of illustrations for a full-text, deluxe edition of Dante’s masterpiece, the Divine Comedy. Ultimately, the illustrations were not well received by the Italians, as it was deemed inappropriate for a Spanish painter (rather than an Italian painter) to have illustrated the work of Italy’s greatest poet. Even though the project was dropped in Italy, Dali and French publisher Joseph Foret continued to pursue publication of the Divine Comedy. Mr. Foret acted as broker between Salvador Dali and Les Heures Claires, a French editing and publishing house that ultimately took full charge of the project. Working in conjunction with Salvador Dali, Raymond Jacquet, with his assistant Jean Taricco, created the blocks necessary for the engraving process. Salvador Dali directly supervised the production of the works and gave final approval for each of the finished wood blocks. Once the project was complete, all of the Divine Comedy blocks were destroyed. The engraving process required the block be cut, a single color applied, then printed to the paper. The block was then cleaned and cut away for the next color. After the 1st original edition of 4765 set was completed, the publisher "Les Heures claires" realized that because of the tremendous work that was needed to complete the printing, he will not be able to make any profit. Therefor, Salvador Dali authorized the publication of an unlimited edition of the divine comedy. To differentiate the two editions it was decided that the second edition will have the signature of Dali printed on a squire at the bottom of the woodcut.