The iconic painting, Salvador Dalí's Christ of St John of the Cross, has found a new home at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. This move marks a significant moment for the city's cultural scene, as the painting, once a shilling-to-view attraction, now occupies a larger, purpose-built space, offering visitors an uninterrupted view and more time to appreciate its beauty. The painting, voted Scotland's favorite in 2005, is displayed with a quiet contemplative area and an enhanced digital interpretation, revealing Dalí's creative process and the story of its acquisition. This digital experience transports visitors to Port Lligat, Spain, where Dalí created the piece, and uses his own words to describe the vision that came to him in two 'cosmic' dreams. A free Bloomberg Connects guide offers audio on the painting's history and the appeal that led to its reputation as the country's favorite painting.
The painting's journey to its new home is a fascinating one. Dalí began developing the ideas for Christ of St John of the Cross in 1948, using sketches, photography, and models, including Hollywood stuntman Russell Saunders suspended from a pulley system, to study gravity's effect on the body. In 1952, Glasgow's Art Galleries Director Dr. TJ Honeyman purchased the work for £8,200, despite public criticism over the cost. He also secured the copyright, and letters on display show his immediate reaction and his growing friendship with Dalí. This acquisition played a significant role in Glasgow's spiritual and cultural life, as Bailie Annette Christie, City Convener for Culture, noted.
The new setting has widened our understanding of Dalí and offered fresh insight into this Glasgow treasure, according to Senior Curator Laura Bauld. The painting's presence at Kelvingrove Art Gallery's East Gallery is expected to remain a major draw among over one million annual visitors, who enjoy free entry. This move not only showcases a 20th-century masterpiece but also highlights the enduring appeal of Dalí's work and the importance of preserving and sharing cultural treasures.
