Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist renowned for works such as The Persistence of Memory (1931) and The Temptation of St. Anthony (1946), is also known for his later, more grounded yet still surreal religious paintings. One such piece, Christ of Saint John on the Cross (1951), stands out for its innovative and controversial depiction of the crucifixion.
Following World War II, Dalí shifted from his iconic dreamlike landscapes to create more realistic but surreal religious scenes. For Christ of Saint John on the Cross, Dalí sought a muscular model to accurately represent the crucified Christ. He found his inspiration in Russ Saunders, an acrobat and stuntman from Muscle Beach in Los Angeles, whose striking physique and appearance were deemed ideal for the role. Saunders was flown to Dalí’s residence in Catalonia, Spain, where he posed suspended from the artist’s ceiling.
Dalí’s vision for the painting was unique, capturing the crucifixion from a previously unseen perspective—looking down from above as Christ floated above the Earth. This innovative approach sparked significant controversy and discussion within the art world.
The painting’s contentious nature led to it being vandalized twice while on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. In 1961, a man attacked the painting with a stone, creating a large tear in the canvas that took months to repair. The damage, visible from certain angles, remains a testament to the painting’s turbulent history. In the early 1980s, a second act of vandalism involved shooting the painting with a rifle or air rifle, damaging the acrylic glass that had been installed to protect it after the initial assault.
Related topics：
Drawing Giraffes: A Comprehensive How-To Guide
How Do You Make a Comic on Webtoon: A Complete Guide
How to Make a Comic Using Clip Studio Paint: A Comprehensive Guide