SALVADOR DALI CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT CFM GALLERY
L'Alchimie des Philosophes - Rare Original Lithograph/Etchings on Parchment

CFM Gallery, in the SoHo area of NYC, in honor of the centennial celebration of the birth of the great Surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, will be presenting one of his most elusive and beautiful projects.

L'Alchimie des Philosophes (The Alchemy of the Philosophers), an artist's book containing 10 original lithograph/etchings on parchment which incorporate diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious stones.

Considered to be some of Dali's most beautiful illustrations, those for L'Alchimie have been largely unavailable since shortly after its publication. Copies turn up rarely and when they do they are usually less than pristine. The work being exhibited at CFM is in exquisite condition.

Concieved as a Livre d'artist (literally, Artist's Book) by Arianne Lancell and Salvador Dali in 1974/75, it is one of Dali's most ambitious projects. Ten lithographs, based on original gouaches with additional original engravings which were re-worked in dry-point by Dali and printed on parchment, make up the bulk of the illustrations for this epic book (over 30" x 22"). There are also six original silkscreens rounding out the illustrative riches to be found in this two volume tome. The text consists of replications of various alchemical writings that span 1500 years.

The cover includes a hollow acrylic wheel which contains moving mercury. When the original acrylic wheels proved to be a somewhat unstable container for the mercury, white metal rods replaced the mercury. CFM is exhibiting one of the original mercury wheels.

The exhibition will also feature other original works by Dali

To View
L'Alchimie des Philosophes
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