Salvador Dalí, "The Snail and the Angel," bronze sculpture, edition of 350 copies, 1984
Patinated bronze sculpture on marble base
Edition: 350 copies – Copy no. 61/350
Height: 46.5 cm
Documentation: Certificate of Authenticity from the Venturi Arte Foundry
Publisher: Jamelton Ltd
Distributor: Master Fine Art, Milan
Description:
"The Snail and the Angel" is a visionary sculpture by Salvador Dalí, created in 1984, which perfectly embodies the dreamlike and symbolic universe of the Catalan artist. The work depicts a snail of monumental dimensions, whose spiral shell evokes the concept of time and metamorphosis, dear to the Surrealist imagination.
Above the snail, stands a winged angel, stylized and dynamic, with a raised wand or scepter, in a pose that evokes triumph or revelation. On either side of the shell, two large wings emerge, transforming the animal into a hybrid, spiritual creature, suspended between earthly slowness and heavenly ascent.
The black marble base contrasts elegantly with the warm patinas of the bronze, highlighting the sculptural details and volumes.
Critical Notes:
This sculpture represents one of the recurring motifs in Dalí's repertoire: the snail, a symbol of dilated time and the mystery of being, often associated by Dalí with the Freudian concept of the unconscious. The addition of the angel suggests an overcoming of matter through imagination, art, and dream.