Biblia Sacra; Vulgatae Editionis

Milan: Rizzoli, 1967. Limited Edition. Full leather. Fine. Limited edition of the Biblia Sacra, an illustrated bible featuring 105 lithographs from original works by Salvador Dalí.. Folio, [five volumes]. Bound in publisher's original full brown morocco. Each volume with five raised bands, lightly rubbed, gilt compartments, and title in gilt along spines. Silk endpapers. Top edges gilt, other edges untrimmed. Solid text blocks, all vibrant and fine. Housed in original slipcases, all with matching brown morocco edges and silk covered boards. Cases with a few small scuffs and spots of toning, near fine condition. Signed by the publisher on the preface of Volume I. One of 1499 copies of the "edition luxus," this being number 974. Complete with 105 lithographs printed in color on heavy paper, each protected by a captioned tissue guard. All lithographs created from the original gouache, watercolor, ink, and pastel paintings by Salvador Dalí, which he completed in 1963 and 1964. Text pages feature Dalí's signature watermark in the corner. (Field 69.3) (Lopsinger 1600) An incredible collectible, rarely seen on the market in its complete form. Spanish painter Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) had a complex relationship with religion throughout his life. He sites his upbringing in a devout Catholic family as a significant influence on his artistic style and world views, but did not carry traditional practices into adulthood. Religious themes are explored in a number of his paintings including "Christ of Saint John of the Cross," "The Crucifixion," and "The Madonna of Port Lligat," all created after his return to Spain in the postwar era. Longtime friends and art collectors Guiseppe and Mara Albaretto commissioned Dalí to create illustrations for a new edition of the Bible in the early 1960s in hopes that he would "meditate on the Catholic religion" and reconnect with his own faith. The resulting 105 images, vibrantly reproduced here, are matched with specific verses from the Latin Vulgate Bible, which was prepared by St. Jerome in the 4th century and used as the Authorized Version in the Roman Catholic Church. (Park West Gallery, 2019).