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Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Métamorphose de Narcisse)

© Salvador Dali, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, DACS 2024. Photo credit: Tate

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Notes

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This painting is Dalí's interpretation of the Greek myth of Narcissus. Narcissus was a youth of great beauty who loved only himself and broke the hearts of many lovers. The gods punished him by letting him see his own reflection in a pool. He fell in love with it, but discovered he could not embrace it and died of frustration. Relenting, the gods immortalised him as the narcissus (daffodil) flower. For this picture Dalí used a meticulous technique which he described as 'hand-painted colour photography' to depict with hallucinatory effect the transformation of Narcissus, kneeling in the pool, into the hand holding the egg and flower. Narcissus as he was before his transformation is seen posing in the background. The play with 'double images' sprang from Dalí's fascination with hallucination and delusion.

Tate

Art UK Founder Partner

More information
Title

Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Métamorphose de Narcisse)

Date

1937

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 51.1 x W 78.1 cm

Accession number

T02343

Acquisition method

Purchased 1979

Work type

Painting

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