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| This timeline includes some of the magazine articles that Dali wrote. For a more complete list, see this post. |
| 1904 TO 1929 |
| 1904 BORN at 8.47am on May 11 in Figueras, Spain, the son of notary public Salvador Dali Cusí and his wife Felipa Domènech Ferrés. He is given the same name as his brother, who died in infancy. 1908 The couple’s only daughter, Ana (or Anna) Maria, is born. Salvador is enrolled at the State Primary School, under the teacher Esteve Trayter.  1910With Salvador failing at school, his father enrols him at the Hispano-French School of the Immaculate Conception in Figueras, where he learns French. 1916 Salvador spends weeks at the Molí de la Torre (MILL TOWER) estate on the outskirts of Figueras owned by the Pichot family of musicians and artists. Among the art owned by painter Ramon Pichot he discovers impressionism. In the autumn he begins secondary schooling at the Marist Brothers’ school and at Figueras grammar school. He also attends the classes taught by Juan Núñez at the Municipal Drawing School in Figueras and experiments with impressionism and pointillism. 1919 Takes part in a group exhibition at the Societat de Concerts rooms in Figueras’ Municipal Theatre (now the Dali Theatre-Museum). With a group of grammar-school friends he founds Studium magazine, in which he publishes his first articles. He begins a personal diary entitled "Les meves impressions i records íntims" ("My Personal Impressions and Private Memories"), which he continues through the following year. 1920 Told that Salvador wants to be a painter, his father insists that he attend the Fine Arts Academy in Madrid so he will at least qualify as a teacher. 1921 His MOTHER DIES in February. 1922 His father marries her sister, Catalina Domènech Ferrés, young Salvador's Aunt Tieta. Takes part in the Students Original Art Works Competition Exhibition of the Catalan Students’ Association, held at Galeries DALMAU in Barcelona, where his work "Market" is awarded the University Vice-Chancellor’s prize. In Madrid he attends the Special Painting, Sculpture and Engraving School (REAL ACADEMIA DE BELLAS ARTES DE SAN FERNANDO) and lives at the Residencia de Estudiantes, where he befriends a group of young people who were also to become leading intellectual and artistic personalities: Luis BUNUEL, Federico García LORCA, Pedro Garfias, Eugenio Montes and Pepín Bello, among others. In Paris, André Breton, Picasso, Max Ernst and Man Ray form the original surrealist group. 1923 He's expelled from the Academy, accused of having led a student protest after the painter Daniel Vázquez Díaz is denied the chairmanship of the Painting School. Dali returns to Figueras and resumes classes with Juan Núñez, who teaches him etching. Serves 35 days in Girona prison on behalf of his father, accused of anarchist tendencies. Becomes interested in the Italian metaphysical art of Carrà and de Chirico. 1924 In autumn he returns to the Academia de San Fernando, obliged to repeat a year. 1925 Takes part in the First Exhibition of the Iberian Artists Society in Madrid, while at Galeries Dalmau in Barcelona he presents his first solo exhibition. Picasso and Mirò show interest. Over the academic year 1925-26 he does not return to the Academy. García Lorca spends the holidays with him in Cadaqués. 1926 Participates in several exhibitions in Madrid and Barcelona. In the company of his aunt and sister, makes his FIRST VISIT TO PARIS, where he meets Picasso and visits the Louvre. He is expelled for good from the Academy for declaring the tribunal examining students is incompetent. He returns to Figueras. 1927 Second solo exhibition at Galeries Dalmau and takes part in the Second Autumn Salon at Barcelona’s Sala Parés gallery, displaying his first clear influences of surrealism. Does his compulsory MILITARY service at Sant Ferran castle in Figueras. Does theatre designs, including Lorca’s “Mariana Pineda”, produced at the Teatro Goya in Barcelona. Miró visits him in Figueras and encourages him to move to Paris. With the publication of the article “San Sebastián”, devoted to Lorca, Dali begins a two-year collaboration with the vanguardist journal L’Amic de les Arts. 1928 Along with Lluís Montanyà and Sebastià Gasch he publishes the Yellow Manifesto (Catalan Anti-Artistic Manifesto), a fierce attack on conventional art. Takes part in the Third Autumn Salon at Sala Parés and in the Twenty-seventh International Exhibition of Paintings in PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania. 1929 In May he travels again to Paris. Belgian art dealer Camille GOEMANS introduces him to surrealist poet Paul Eluard and, through Joan Miró, he meets the other members of the group headed by André BRETON. The film he has made with Buñuel, "UN CHIEN ANDALOU", premieres at Paris’ Studio des Ursulines. He spends the summer in Cadaqués and through July and August is visited in July by Goemans, René MAGRITTE and PAUL and GALA ELUARD and their daughter Cécile. Gala stays behind in August and will remain with him for the rest of her life. Their relationship scandalises his family, and his father banishes him from their lives. Dali takes part in the group exhibition "Abstrakte und surrealistische Malerei und Plastik" at the KUNSTHAUS in Zurich. In Novermber he elopes with Gala to Barcelona, two days before the opening of his show at Goeman's gallery, his first solo exhibition in Paris. |
| 1930 to 1949 |
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1930 In January shaves his head in "mourning" for his family split and moves to Paris, sharing with Gala an apartment Eluard had just bought. "L’AGE D'OR" ("The Golden Age"), his second film with Buñuel, premieres at Studio 28 in Paris and a riot ensues. In February he and Gala take up residence at the Hotel du Chateau at Carry-le-Rouet on the French Riviera and stay for two months. Éditions Surréalistes publishes his book "La femme visible" ("The Visible Woman"), a compilation of articles that had previously appeared in various magazines, such as “The Putrified Donkey”, in which he lays the foundations for his paranoiac-critical method. Designs the front piece for the Second Surrealist Manifesto. Publishes the poem-manifesto “L’Âne pourri” and the policy essay "Reverie" in the magazine Le Surréalisme au Service de la Revolution. Buys a fisherman’s cottage at Port Lligat as a home for himself and Gala. 1931 Stages his first solo exhibition at Galerie Pierre COLLE in Paris, which includes "The Persistence of Memory". Takes part in the first surrealist exhibition in the US, at the WADSWORTH ATHENEUM in Hartford, Connecticut. His book "L’amour et la mémoire" ("Love and Memory") is published. 1932 Takes part in the exhibition "Surrealism: Paintings, Drawings and Photographs", organised by the Julien LEVY Gallery in New York. Second solo exhibition is held at the Colle gallery in Paris. Picasso introduces him to photographer Brassai, with whom he collaborates on the new the Paris-based magazine Minotaure. His first show of surrealist work in Spain, at the Galeria d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. His book "Babaouo", in which he outlines his cinema concepts, appears. At the end of the year the Viscount of Noailles and 11 other wealthy art patrons form the Zodiac group, which agrees to help Dali financially by commissioning a painting a month on a rotating basis. 1933 The first issue of Minotaure features the prologue to Dali's "Interprétation paranoïaque-critique de l'image obsédante 'L'Angélus' de Millet" ("Paranoiac-critical Interpretation of the Obsessive Image 'The Angelus' by Millet"). The balance of the book remains unpublished until 1963. Takes part in a surrealist group exhibition at Galerie Colle and later has his own solo show there. Illustrates “Les Chants de Maldoror” by Comte de Lautréamont with 42 original engravings. First solo show at the Levy Gallery in New York. 1934 MARRIES Gala on August 30 in a civil ceremony at the municipal council headquarters in Paris’ XIV arrondissement. Exhibits at the Exposition du Cinquantenaire in the Salon des Indépendants at the Grand Palais in Paris, infuriating Breton's surrealist group, which is boycotting the show, but following a "trial" in Breton's flat, they stop short of expelling him. Stages his first solo show at the ZWEMMER Gallery in London. With Gala he sails on the Champlain for their FIRST VISIT TO AMERICA. He has two solo exhibitions, at the Levy Gallery and the Wadsworth Atheneum in Connecticut. Does a series of illustrations of New York for the American Weekly. 1935 Following a raucous "Surrealist Ball" in New York on January 19, the Dalis return to Europe on board the Normandie. Reconciles with family in Figueras in March. Éditions Surréalistes publishes his book "La conquête de l'irrationnel" ("The Conquest of the Irrational"). 1936 In May takes part in "Exposition Surréaliste d’Objets" at the Galerie Charles RATTON in Paris. In June he participates in the INTERNATIONAL SURREALIST EXHIBITION at the New Burlington Galleries in London, lecturing in a deep-sea diving suit. Dali leaves Spain because of the civil war. Signs a patronage contract with Edward JAMES valid through 1938. In London he visits Sigmund FREUD. SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. On December 14 TIME devotes its cover to him, with a photograph by Man Ray. Takes part in the exhibition "Fantastic Art Dada Surrealism" at the MOMA in New York. His third solo show is held at the Levy Gallery in New York. 1937 In February he meets the MARX BROTHERS in Hollywood. With Harpo he begins work on a script for a film entitled "Giraffes on Horseback Salad" (later "The Surrealist Woman"), which is never produced. Returns to Europe. Éditions Surréalistes publishes his poem “The Metamorphosis of Narcissus”, which Julien Levy releases in English. Spends the balance of the year and part of the following in ITALY, absorbing the influence of the Renaissance and baroque painters. Designs dresses and hats for Elsa SCHIAPARELLI and collaborates with Coco CHANEL on ballet designs. 1938 The Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, organised by André Breton and Paul Eluard, opens on January 17 at the Galerie Beaux-Arts in Paris, with Dali’s "Rainy Taxi" at the entrance. Visits Venice and stays for a while with Coco Chanel on the Riviera. 1939 In March another solo show at the Levy Gallery. Sets up a display window for the Manhattan department store BONWIT TELLER, but they alter his design and he breaks the window overturning a bathtub. He is briefly taken into police custody. Designed the "Dream of Venus" pavilion for the WORLD'S FAIR in New York. Publishes “Declaration of Independence of the Imagination and the Rights of Man to His Own Madness” in response to censorial changes made to the pavilion. The Metropolitan Opera House in New York stages the debut of the ballet "BACCHANALE", with libretto, costumes and sets by Dali and choreography by Léonide Massine. Breton publishes an article called “Latest Tendencies in Surrealist Painting” that leads to Dali’s EXPULSION from the surrealist group. In September the couple returns to Europe. 1940 As German troops enter Bordeaux, Dali and Gala flee their temporary home in ARCACHON and, boarding the Excambion, MOVE TO AMERICA, living first at Hampton Manor in Virginia, the home of Caresse CROSBY, then the Del Monte Lodge in Pebble Beach, California, and finally the ST REGIS HOTEL in New York. They remain in the US until 1948. 1941 Dali begins designing jewellery and a long collaboration with photographer Philippe HALSMAN. Exhibits at the Levy Gallery again. On October 8 the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo debuts at the Metropolitan Opera House with "LABYRINTH", with libretto, decor and costumes by Dali, choreography by Massine and music by Schubert. On November 18 New York’s MoMA opens an anthology exhibition devoted to Dali and Miró. On view are 50 Dali paintings, 17 drawings and six pieces of jewellery. The show continues until January 11, 1942, even as the United States enters World War II, and then travels to eight other American cities. 1942 New York’s Dial Press publishes "The Secret Life of Salvador Dali", finished the year before. 1943 Exhibition of portraits at the Knoedler Gallery in New York. In April Reynolds and Eleanor MORSE couple purchase their first Dali painting, the beginning of a major collection. In May he designs a new ballet, "El Café de Chinitas", based on a true story adapted by Federico García Lorca. It's performed in Detroit and at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. Completes studies for three murals for the New York apartment of Helena Rubenstein. 1944 Cover for an issue of Vogue. Advertisements for Bryans Hosiery stockings, a collaboration that continues into 1947. On October at the International Theatre in New York, Ballet International presents "Sentimental Colloquy", with sets designed by Dali. Dial Press publishes Dali’s first novel, "Hidden Faces". On December 15 Ballet International debuts "MAD TRISTAN", billed as "the first paranoiac ballet", in New York. Dali’s plot is based on the musical themes of Wagner’s "Tristan and Isolde".  1945In Hollywood he creates a dream sequence for Alfred Hitchcock's "SPELLBOUND". The BIGNOU Gallery in New York shows "Recent Paintings by Salvador Dali", where Dali unveils the first volume of Dali News, a newspaper entirely about him. Illustrates “The Maze” by Maurice Sandoz. 1946 Illustrates "The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini", "Macbeth" and "The First Part of the Life and Achievements of the Renowned Don QUIXOTE de la Mancha". Walt Disney hires Dali to help produce the animated feature "Destino". Exhibitions "Four Spaniards: Dali, Gris, Miro, Picasso" at the Institute of Modern Art in Boston, "A Selection of Contemporary Paintings" at the Bignou Gallery, and 2nd Summer Exhibition of Contemporary Art at the University of Iowa. Covers for EtCetera magazine and the Christmas issue of Vogue. Knoedler Gallery helps Dali launch a perfume called Desert Flower by exhibiting his "Desert Trilogy" of paintings. 1947 Doubleday publishes "Essays of Michel de Montaigne", selected and illustrated by Dali. Second exhibition at the Bignou Gallery, along with the second and last issue of Dali News. Script magazine commissions his depictions of selected American cities and the atomic era. 1948 Publishes "50 Secrets of Magic". Designs sets and costumes for Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Eliseo Theatre in Rome, directed by Luchino Visconti. Exhibits at the Galleria l'Obelisco. The Dalis return to Spain. 1949 Designs theatre productions by Peter Brook and Lucino Visconti. Granted an audience with POPE PIUS XII at the Vatican. Designs scenery for Strauss' "Salome" at Covent Garden, directed by Peter Brook in London. Another trip to New York. Ana Maria publishers a memoir, "Dali as Seen by His Sister", to which he takes offence. |
| 1950 to 1969 |
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1950 Publishes the book "Memorandum" in response to his sister's memoir. Writes articles for Vogue and the Herald American. Lectures on “Why I was Sacrilegious, why I am Mystical” at Barcelona’s Ateneu Barcelonès. Designs costumes and scenery for Zorrilla's "Don Juan Tenorio" at the Teatro Maria Guerrero in Madrid (other sources say this was 1949). His father dies on September 21. 1951 Presents in Paris his "Mystical Manifesto". Lectures on “Picasso and I” at Madrid’s Teatro María Guerrero. 1952 Accompanied by the Morses, makes a lecture tour of Iowa, Missouri, Texas and Florida, discussing nuclear mysticism. Writes articles for French publications Connaissance des Arts and Le Courrier des lettres.  1953Lectures on the phenomenological aspects of the paranoiac-critical method at Paris’ SORBONNE University. 1954 Works with Robert Descharnes on the film "The Prodigious Story of the Lacemaker and the Rhinoceros”, which is never finished. At the Palazzo Pallavicini in Rome he exhibits his illustrations for Dante’s "DIVINE COMEDY", a show subsequently seen in Venice and Milan. Illustrates the books "The True Story of Lídia of Cadaqués" by Eugeni d’Ors and "Ballad of the Cobbler of Ordis" by Carles Fages de Climent, for which Dali also writes the epilogue. 1956 Publishes his essay "The Cuckolded of the Old Modern Art". Pays homage to Gaudí at Güell Park in Barcelona, creating an artwork in front of the crowd. A large retrospective is held in Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium. 1957 Joseph Foret publishes 12 original lithographs by Dali as "Pages choisies de Don Quichotte de la Mancha" ("Selected Pages from 'Don Quixote of La Mancha'"). 1958 MARRIES GALA in a Catholic ceremony on August 8 at the Els Àngels shrine in Sant Martí Vell, near Girona. Receives the Médaille à la Qualité Francaise from the Cuban Ambassador in Paris for his Don Quixote series. 1959 In May presents a 15-metre-long loaf of bread at a "happening" at the Théatre de l’Etoile in Paris. Presents his "Ovocipede", a vehicle resembling a large, transparent plastic ball. Granted an audience with POPE JOHN XXIII at the Vatican. 1960 Films the documentary "Chaos and Creation". "The Ecumenical Council" is exhibited at the CARSTAIRS Gallery in New York. His participation in an international surrealist exhibition in New York draws a response in words from the Paris surrealists titled "We Don't Ear It that Way". 1961 Writes and designs the sets and costumes for “Ballet de Gala”, which premieres at the Teatro Fenice in Venice with choreography by Maurice Bejart. Lectures at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris on the myth of “Castor and Pollux”. 1962 Robert Descharnes publishes "Dali of Gala: The World of Salvador Dali". Exhibits "The Battle of Tetuan" beside Fortuny's painting of the same subject in Barcelona's Palacio TINELL. 1963 Knoedler Gallery in New York exhibits most recent works. Publishes his book "The Tragic Legend of 'The Angelus' by Millet", the manuscript that had been "lost" for 22 years. Decides that the railway station in PERPIGNAN is the centre of the universe. 1964 Awarded the Grand Cross of Isabel la Católica, the highest Spanish distinction. A full retrospective exhibition is held at TOKYO's Seibu Museum, which then tours Japan. Éditions de La Table Ronde publishes "Journal d’un génie" ("Diary of a Genius").  1965Illustrates an edition of the Bible with 100 watercolours. The Gallery of Modern Art on Columbus Circle in New York hosts "Salvador Dali 1910-1965", with 370 works, which includes the entire Morse collection. 1967 Purchases and begins decorating PUBOL CASTLE for Gala. (Some sources say the building wasn't bought or even considered until 1969.) 1966 Albin Michel of Paris publishes Dali’s book "Open Letter to Salvador Dali" with 33 of his illustrations. Designs the First Day Cover for the 20th anniversary of the World Federation of United Nations Association. Alain Bosquet publishes "Conversations with Salvador Dali". 1968 Takes part in the exhibition "Dada-Surrealism and their Heritage" at MoMA. His conversations with Louis Pauwels result in the book "The Passions according to Dali". "Dali de Draeger" is released, with a prologue by Dali. 1969 Continues studies of science and HOLOGRAPHY, seeking mastery of the three-dimensional image and thus access to the fourth dimension, which he believes will bring immortality. Publishes "Las Metamorfosis Eròticas", a further examination of the paranoiac-critical technique. |
| 1970 to 1989 |
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1970 Holds a press conference at the Gustave Moreau Museum in Paris to unveil plans for the Dali THEATRE-MUSEUM in Figueras. Another show at the Knoedler Gallery. Commercial work for Perrier, Lanvin chocolates and the French Railways. The Museum Boijmans van BEUNINGEN in Rotterdam hosts a major retrospective that moves in 1971 to the Staatliche Kunsthalle in Baden-Baden, Germany. 1971 The Dali Museum in CLEVELAND, Ohio, opens with the collection of Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, about 96 paintings at that time. "Oui", an anthology of Dali's earlier articles, is published. Article in Vogue’s Christmas issue, which he designed. 1972 New York's KNOEDLER Galleries presents an exhibition of holograms created by Dali in collaboration with researcher Dennis Gabor. 1973 BBC shoots the documentary “Hello Dali” in Port Lligat. A year before its inauguration, the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueras presents the exhibition "Dali: His Art in Jewels". His books "How One Becomes Dali", with prologue by André Parinaud, is published. Draeger released "Les dîners de Gala" ("Gala’s Dinners"). Articles in Paris Match and La Vanguardia. The Louisiana Museum at Humlebeak hosts a Dali retrospective that moves lateto the Moderna Museet of Stockholm. Illustrates "Ten Recipes for Immortality" and "Roi Je t'attends à Babylone". 1974 Writes the prologue for and illustrates Sigmund Freud’s book "Moses and Monotheism". The Dali THEATRE-MUSEUM OPENS on September 28. Retrospective at the Stadel Museum in Frankfurt-am-Main. Books “Pujols per Dali” and “Dali in his Labyrinth”, with Henry-François Rey.  1977Draeger publishes "Les Vins de Gala" ("Gala’s Wines"). 1978 Presents his first hyperstereoscopic painting, "Dali Lifting the Skin of the Mediterranean to Show Gala the Birth of Venus", at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Discovers René Thom’s work on mathematical catastrophe theory. 1979 Appointed associate overseas member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of the Institut de France. A major retrospective is held at the POMPIDOU Centre in Paris with an "environment" he specially designed for it. Paints and sketches works inspired by Michelangelo and Raphael. 1980 From May 14 to June 29 London’s TATE Gallery hosts a retrospective, with 251 works. Delivers his portrait of the King of Spain to the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. Book “Museum Works”, with Josep Pla. 1981 Recovering slowly from an illness contracted in New York, he is visited in Port Lligat by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. 1982 The Salvador Dali Museum opens in ST PETERSBURG, Florida, as the new home of the Morse collection. Jordi Pujol, president of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, presents Dali with the Governmental Gold Medal. GALA DIES on June 10 in Port Lligat and her remains are entombed at Púbol Castle, where Dali goes to live. King Juan Carlos I appoints him the Marquis of Púbol for his contributions to Spanish culture. 1983 An exhibition gathering 400 artworks from 1914 to 1983 is held in Madrid, Barcelona and Figueras. The perfume "Dali" appears on shelves. Dali creates his final pictorial works. In May he paints his last picture, "The Swallow's Tail". 1984 After being badly injured in a fire at Púbol Castle, he moves to Torre Galatea at the Theatre-Museum in Figueras. Large exhibition in the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, Italy. Descharnes publishes "Salvador Dali: the Work, the Man". 1985 Appears on Spanish television for the first time in six years to announce a recent donation of works to the Theatre-Museum. 1986 Photographer Helmut Newton takes pictures of Dali for Vanity Fair, dressed in a satin nightgown and wearing his Grand Cross of Isabella and feeding tubes in his nose. 1987 Tragedy “Màrtir” in El Paseante magazine. 1988 The first exhibition in the Soviet Union, at Moscow's Pushkin Museum of Art. 1989 DALI DIES at age 85 of heart failure and respiratory complications, at Torre Galatea on January 23. He is buried in the crypt of the Theatre-Museum in Figueras. His sister Ana María dies in Cadaqués on May 17. A major retrospective, "Salvador Dali, 1904-1989", is held at the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart and later at the Kunsthaus in Zurich. @ |