The artwork titled “Aquae diluvii super terram (Genesis 6:17)” was created by Salvador Dali between 1964 and 1967. It forms part of a religious painting genre within Dali’s series “The Biblia Sacra.” The art piece is influenced by Abstract Expressionism and Symbolism, movements that prioritize emotional depth and symbolic content.
The artwork presents a chaotic and surreal landscape that appears to be responding to the biblical reference of the deluge. A large, dark, and imposing shape dominates the center of the painting, which could be interpreted as a rising form of water or perhaps land being submerged by the flood. On the right side, we see a classical representation of Noah’s Ark, depicted in a more traditional and recognizable form with its characteristic wooden structure and pitched roof. Figures on the lower right stand diminutively in comparison to the natural forces illustrated here, possibly alluding to the human experience during the divine flood. In the background, a series of delicate lines may represent rain, contributing to the overall impression of a cataclysmic event.
Salvador Dali has signed the artwork in the lower right corner, adding a personal touch to the historical narrative the piece reflects. The painting’s color palette is mostly subdued, using earthy tones punctuated by the contrast of the dark central element, which helps convey a sense of impending doom and the overwhelming power of the deluge.
