alvador Dali was born on May 11, 1904. He was a leader in the new movement of art in the early 20th century called
Surrealism. In 1921 Dali studied at the San Fernando Acadamy of Fine Arts in Madrid. Here he was able to associate and
learn from such Spanish modernists as Fedrico Garcia Lorca, and Luis Bundel. He also was influenced by Italian futurists and
the metaphysical paintings of Giorgio de Chirico. In his early works, however, Dali gave credit to his own Catalan sense of
fantasy and his megalomania as being his true motivating forces. Dali left the San Fernando Acadamy of Fine Arts in 1926, and
move to Paris where he frequented the Cafe Cyrano, which was the ÒheadquartersÓ of the Parisan surrealists. In 1929 Cafe
Cyrano featured an exhibit of DaliÕs own surrealist paintings. Dali was also fascinated with the writings of psychologist
Sigmund Freud. He was so moved by FruedÕs theory that he subsequently vowed to his lifeÕs ambition to Òsystemize
confusionÓ. Dali is best known for his surrealist works. Surrealism is an art style in which imagery is based on fantasy and the
world of dreams. It is thought have grown out of the French literary movement in the 1920Õs and has itÕs roots in Dadaism.
These painters developed a dreamlike, or hallucinatory, imagery that was all the more startling for its highly realistic rendering.
Some of DaliÕs better known paintings are: ÒPersistence Of MemoryÓ also know popularly as ÒSoft WatchesÓ (1931), and
ÒThe Sacrament Of The Last SupperÓ (1955). These Paintings have become part of the definitive record of 20th Century art.
Dali used many mediums to illustrate his inspirations. His most popular of course are his paintings, but he also used such media
as jewelry, advertisements, beer-bottle designs, ballet sets, and costumes. Dali also experimented his talents in film as well. In
1928 he and childhood mentor Luis Bundel produced the famous surrealist fil...