We are happy to note we’ve secured access to this fabulous “Hamlet” painting from 1967. Please find the listing and pricing below…
SALVADOR DALÍ (1904-1989)
Hamlet dans la chambre de sa mère la Reine, Polonius caché derrière un rideau va être tué par Hamlet (Acte III, scène 4)
signed with the monogram and dated ‘DALI 1967’ (upper right)
(TR: Hamlet in the bedroom of his mother the Queen, Polonius hidden behind a curtain is going to be killed by Hamlet)
Watercolor, brush and pen and India ink on paper
15 x 11 1/8 in. (38 x 28.3 cm.)
Executed in 1967
Nicolas and Olivier Descharnes have confirmed the authenticity of this work.
PROVENANCE: Acquired directly from the artist, and thence by descent to private collection, UK. Private collection, USA.
PRICE: upon request
Lord Polonius, a counselor to King Claudius, Hamlet’s father’s brother who, following the death of King Hamlet (Young Hamlet’s father) marries Queen Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother).
SCENE: Gertrude’s room, Polonius hides behind a tapestry. Hamlet’s entrance so alarms Gertrude that she cries out for help. Polonius echoes her cry, and Hamlet, thinking Polonius to be Claudius, stabs him to death. Hamlet feels Polonius is a pompous courtier manipulating his mother for his own ends.
HAMLET: [Drawing his sword] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!
[Makes a pass through the curtain]
LORD POLONIUS: [Behind the curtain] O, I am slain!
[Falls and dies]
QUEEN GERTRUDE: O me, what hast thou done?
HAMLET: Nay, I know not: Is it the king?
Hamlet pulls back to the curtain to reveal Polonius’ dead body he says. “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better ” Hamlet continues by expressing disappointment in Polonius whom he had previously thought to be a better man.
Dalí’s Hamlet dans la chambre de sa mère la Reine, Polonius caché derrière un rideau va être tué par Hamlet (1967) offers a surreal interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most pivotal moments from Hamlet (Act III, Scene 4). This scene captures Hamlet confronting his mother, Queen Gertrude, while unknowingly slaying Polonius, hidden behind the curtain. Through watercolor, brush, and pen-and-ink techniques, Dalí renders a dreamlike ambiance: Hamlet’s silhouette is steeped in shadow, juxtaposed against a richly textured curtain, which becomes an almost organic tapestry of life and chaos. The spider in the foreground—a recurring Dalinian symbol—heightens the tension, alluding to entrapment and fate.
Executed as part of Dalí’s Hamlet series, the work reflects his profound connection to Shakespeare, whom he called a “timeless prophet.” Dalí’s ability to bridge literary narrative with surrealist imagery is evident in the Queen’s ghostly presence and the distorted spatial perspective, which evoke psychological conflict and dramatic intensity. Signed “DALI 1967,” this piece measures 15 x 11 1/8 inches, making it a highly collectible artifact within Dalí’s oeuvre. The interplay of vibrant colors and layered symbolism provides a compelling visual commentary on Shakespeare’s tragedy, appealing to both literary and fine art enthusiasts.
