“The Harmony of the Spheres” is an oil on canvas artwork by Salvador Dali, created in 1978. The artwork, which reflects the Surrealist movement, measures 100 cm by 100 cm. This symbolic painting is currently housed at the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres, Spain. It exemplifies Dali’s lifelong fascination with science, mathematics, and metaphysical themes, often blending them with mystical and religious symbolism.
In the artwork, two seemingly identical figures resembling the artist himself are featured. Their backs are turned towards the viewer, and they are stretching upwards towards a meticulous array of spheres arranged in the sky. The figures appear to be either manipulating or worshipping these celestial orbs. The background suggests a transitional time of day, with a horizon split between the golden warmth of a setting or rising sun and the cool blues of a calm sea or vast expanse of water. A solitary, enigmatic structure can be noticed in the distance between the two figures.
The spheres are uniformly arranged in a grid-like pattern, evoking the mathematical concept of the matrix or the philosophical construct of the music of the spheres. This latter concept is an ancient philosophical idea that the proportions in the movements of the celestial bodies—sun, moon, and planets—are a form of musica (the Medieval Latin name for music), a harmony both audible and perceptible by humans. The precise rendering and mystical atmosphere invite contemplation of the universal and the divine, themes that are often explored in Dali’s oeuvre.
