Allium Christophii Pilique Pubescentes (from the 'Surrealist Flowers' / 'Flordali' series)
Original print, lithograph with drypoint engraving • Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989)
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Color lithography and drypoint on Arches or Rives vellum paper, utilizing hand-coloring and etched line work over tonal lithographic planes
Creation Period
circa 1972
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 75 x 55 cm (Sheet size), vertical portrait format
Subject Description
A botanical study of a Star of Persia (Allium) transformed through a surrealist lens. The central globe-like flower head is rendered with delicate pink and purple tones, while the rigid, spiked leaves are annotated with dream-like appendages, including thin red supports or 'crutches'—a recurring Dalínian motif—suspending small horseshoe-like or floral elements.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the image retains vibrant coloration and crisp linework, with minor evidence of handling near the edges typical of works on paper.
Estimated Market Value
USD $3,000 – $6,000
Auction Estimate
USD $2,500 – $4,500
Provenance History
Originally published by Jean-Paul Schneider or Pierre Argillet; likely sourced from a private collection or a secondary market gallery specializing in 20th-century master prints.
Art Historical Significance
Part of the 'Flordali' suite where Dalí reinterpreted 18th and 19th-century botanical illustrations (specifically those by Pierre-Joseph Redouté) and infused them with bizarre, psychoanalytic imagery. It represents Dalí's late-career interest in the intersection of science, nature, and the subconscious.
Notable Features
Features the artist's characteristic cursive signature in the lower right and pseudo-scientific Latin calligraphy ('Allium Christophii pilique pubescentes') at the base, merging the authority of a scientific document with Surrealist irony.
Condition Issues
Potential light toning or yellowing of the paper if not kept under UV-protective glass; minor foxing possible on the reverse; sharp edges suggest some trimming may have occurred in past framing.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be mounted using acid-free, reversible archival materials and kept behind UV-filtering museum glass. Maintain stable humidity (45-55%) to prevent cockling of the paper.