Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Fine and Decorative Art and Design
Abstract
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), a renowned painter from the Surrealist period, is known for his dreamlike Freudian works that challenge the traditional values of painting. However, halfway through the 20th century, he took a turn towards religious themes of Catholicism, drawing inspiration from the Renaissance. This pivot was quite shocking to the artistic community. At that time the artistic community did not view him as a religious man but rather as someone who aimed to provoke by pushing boundaries with his unconventional themes. During the same period, the Vatican began to loosen their views on modernism, which was once strictly forbidden, further motivating Dalí in his new exploration. The Church came to accept Dalí’s new style of religious work, overlooking his past themes, which did not align with their values. This unlikely alliance benefitted both parties. It placed the Church in a positive light, being viewed as open-minded and accepting of the changing world. For Dalí, this alliance validated his new style of Nuclear Mysticism allowing him to return to Spain and gain patronage under the Catholic Franco regime. This dissertation will examine these connections through the Nuclear Mystic works of Salvador Dalí.
Recommended Citation
Mandia, Emma, "Modernizing the Sacred: The Church’s Growing Relationship with Modernism and Salvador Dalí’s Renaissance" (2026). MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design Dissertations. 5.
https://digitalcommons.sia.edu/ma_fine_ad/5