Guardian Angel No. II (1976)
Ink on catalogue, “The Photographer & The Artist” Sidney Janis, (1976) , 6.5” x 8” (16.5cm x 20.3cm)
The spirit of the guardian angel theme, emblematic of the Dr. Edmund Klein Collection (Dali’s skin-care physician), is wonderfully captured in this very special drawing, showing a reverently kneeling angel holding an olive branch, a symbol of peace and hope. This thoughtful work was made in the 32-page catalogue, The Photographer & The Artist, opening 4-7pm, thru March 6, 1976 at Sidney Janis, 6 West 57th. New York. (copyright 1976).
Dedicated to Dr. Klein, the work featured the words “guardian angel” in Dali’s handwriting, along with this important hand-written designation: “No. II. First = Gala”. This, of course, meant Dr. Klein was second only to Gala (Dali’s beloved wife) as his reigning guardian angel! This realization is more significant than one might first imagine. Clearly Dali was hyper-aware of his mortality, and was facing this inevitability when he first enlisted the intervention of Dr. Klein. Although the details are unknown, it is clear that Dr. Klein helped Dali get through and go beyond his medical concerns. Dali putting Dr. Klein second only to Gala as his “Guardian Angel” speaks volumes about the painter’s feelings for his physician.
It is also significant to note that one of Dali’s most important paintings in the 1952 work, “The Angel of Port Lligat”, which portrays his wife Gala as a winged angel along the shore of their Spanish Home. Moreover, one of the watercolors in the collection of Mrs. Albert D. Lasker, whose Foundation honored the work of Dr. Klein, was “Guardian Angel of Cadaques” of 1943.
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