Salvador Dali, a renowned Surrealist artist, created the artwork entitled “Proelium magnum in caelo” between the years 1964 and 1967. The piece, executed in gouache, is a part of “The Biblia Sacra” series and is indicative of Dali’s exploration of religious themes. This artwork is characterized by a fusion of Abstract Expressionism and Symbolism, which signifies its period and Dali’s unique approach to representing religious narratives.
The artwork presents a dynamic and abstract composition embodying a sense of turbulence and conflict, as implied by its title, which translates to “The Great Battle in Heaven.” The bold splatters and energetic brushstrokes evoke a sense of movement and chaos. While the colors are rich and vibrant, consisting of deep blues, greens, and oranges contrasted against lighter areas, they seem to swirl around central figures or elements that are more discernible amidst the abstraction. There’s a suggestiveness of forms that one might interpret as celestial or infernal beings engaged in a spiritual or cosmic battle.
Foreground elements with a more distinct outline against the more fluid background may provide focal points within the overall work, hinting at figures or symbols pertinent to the artwork’s religious genre. One might infer that the more discernible forms represent powerful symbols or figures from Biblical narratives, aligning with Dali’s known practice of embedding symbols with significant meaning in his work.
The artwork’s association with “The Biblia Sacra” series underlines Dali’s interest in the visualization of Biblical passages, in which he often injected his distinctive style, blending traditional religious iconography with his avant-garde vision, thus contributing to the modern interpretation of religious art.
