Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1989). Christmas card from Dali to the Lucas family, 1967 - an original etching by Salvador Dali, pencil signed and numbered 67/150 below and published by Phyllis Lucas with copyright stamp above at upper left. A special holiday card from Salvador Dali to the Lucas family - the first publishers of Dali's graphics in North America. In his characteristic dreamlike Surrealist manner, Dali features a large angel holding an enormous flower in the foreground of the scene. The inscription in the plate reads, "MERRY XMAS AND FOR GOOD LUCK TO THE LUCA'S 1967 (sic)". Sidney and Phyllis Lucas (directors of the Phyllis Lucas Gallery) were the first North American publishers of original Dali's prints. Their collaboration with Dali began in January 1965 and lasted nearly a decade. The Lucas' were honored to work directly with Dali, and the master Surrealist became a close personal friend of the Lucas family. Size of etching: 5" L x 4" W (12.7 cm x 10.2 cm) Approximate size of card when closed: 10" L x 7" W (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm)

Although Dali had been creating limited edition prints since the 1930's, the works he would create under the counsel of American publishers, Sidney and Phyllis Lucas, after they met in 1964, became regarded as among the best quality of Dali lithographs. The Phyllis Lucas Gallery in New York City had a close relationship with the legendary Salvador Dali. During his stays in New York City, Dali considered the gallery his American home base for the display and sale of his works. Furthermore, in 1963, the Phyllis Lucas gallery held an autograph session and public viewing with Salvador Dali.

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marquis of Dali de Pubol (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989) was a Spanish surrealist artist of Catalan ethnicity born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. One of the most famous artists that has ever lived, Dali was a prolific creator working in many mediums including painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, writing, multi-media, photography, and filmmaking. Dali had a famously eccentric personality, and with his exceptional skill as a draftsman and his unusually imaginative view of the world, he captured the attention of the public wherever his work was displayed. Dali also created his own personal philosophy which he called paranoid critical - a state in which one could simulate delusion while still maintaining one's sanity - which influenced the Surrealist movement. Dali's world of tapping into the unconscious using symbolism filled with themes from religion, death, eroticism, and decay has fascinated even those who were not frequent art lovers. Dali was a great showman and loved being adored by his public - and needless to say, he possessed immense talent that sustained his popularity even after his death.

See another version of this Christmas card to the Lucas family (1967) in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 67.846).

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: Jon and Mary Williams private art collection, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#166577

The card is pencil signed by Dali and numbered 67/150. In addition, the Lucas copyright stamp is above the scene on the upper left. The inside of the card is blank. In excellent condition overall. Nice watermark on lower right of the paper.