Salvador Dalí's 1946 Painting Mirage Explores Renaissance Revival and Atomic Age Context

In 1946, Salvador Dalí created 'Trilogy of the desert: Mirage' as part of a commission for the launch of Shulton's Desert Flower perfume, exhibited at Knoedler Gallery in New York. This work reflects Dalí's shift during his U.S. residency from 1940 to 1948, where he rejected Surrealism and embraced classical techniques inspired by Italian Old Masters like Raphael and Michelangelo. The painting combines elements of consumer culture, fine craftsmanship, and Dalí's 'nuclear mysticism' philosophy, influenced by atomic bomb developments. Dr. Ted Gott, NGV Senior Curator of International Art, analyzes these themes, noting Dalí's public disputes with abstract art and alignment with figures like President Harry Truman. The NGV is fundraising to acquire this piece, highlighting its significance in Dalí's oeuvre and post-war American art.