DANTE (Alighieri) - [DALI] The Divine Comedy. Hell, Purgatory, Paradise. Illustrations by Salvador Dali (27 x 34 cm) Paris, Les Heures claires, 1959-1963. - 6 volumes in-folio, in sheets, folders, cases. illustrated with 100 watercolors in colors in plate of Salvador DALI (1904-1989), reproduced by the care of Raymond Jacquet with the collaboration of Jean Taricco and Paul Masin. Translation by Julien Brizeux, Limited edition of 4765 numbered copies on velin pur chiffon de Rives. This one is numbered 2650 out of 3900 numbered on vélin pur chiffon de Rives. In 1950, at the request of the Libreria dello Stato in Rome, Salvador Dali undertook to produce 100 watercolors illustrating the 100 songs of the Divine Comedy of Dante. In 1951, a part of the watercolors was exhibited in Rome. While Dali's work continues, the Italian government finally decides that Dante's work must be illustrated by an Italian painter. The contract between the Libreria dello Stato and Salvador Dali is denounced and the painter becomes the owner of his work. In July 1959, Les Heures Claires bought the exclusivity and all the reproduction rights, the set was engraved and printed under the direction of Raymond Jacquet, assisted by Jean Taricco and Paul Massin and printed by Jacquet and Daragnès. The selection of the colors, the engraving and the printing of 3600 woods represent 4 years of continuous work. In May 1960, an exhibition of the 100 watercolors was held in Paris at the Galliera Museum in the presence of Salvador Dali. This edition of the Divine Comedy will be judged as one of the most outstanding of the 20th century. Very good condition, scattered spotting to a few pages of text, 4 plates of illustrations slightly browned with traces of thumbtack holes in the corners.