“The secret of my influence has always been that it remained secret.” - Salvador Dalí

Noted art historians Dr. Christopher Heath Brown and Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts unravel the meaning of Dalí’s mysterious quote in their new book, THE DALÍ LEGACY: How an Eccentric Genius Changed the Art World and Created a Lasting Legacy (Apollo Publishers/December 1, 2020/$26.99).  In this hardcover volume, with more than 150 full-color images, Brown and Isbouts reveal why Dalí’s visual wit and enduring cult of personality still impacts fashion, literature, and art to this day.

One of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, at turns beloved and reviled, Salvador Dalí was a pioneer in establishing himself as a brand—the archetype of the nonconformista, the dangerously provocative but always exciting genius, who could seamlessly blend erotic themes with religious iconography. His shocking behavior and zest for publicity frequently alienated critics as well as prominent Surrealists. And yet, as THE DALÍ LEGACY shows, Dalí’s work broke new ground in a number of ways that are only now receiving critical attention.

Brown and Isbouts take readers through all the main episodes of Dalí’s remarkable life–including the historical, social, and political conditions that shaped his work–to give an unflinching view of the artist’s personal relationships and motivations.  Brown and Isbouts previously co-authored three critically acclaimed books on Leonardo da Vinci, including Young Leonardo, The Mona Lisa Myth, and The Da Vinci Legacy. They have also produced two documentaries, The Search for the Last Supper and The Search for the Mona Lisa, which aired on PBS stations in the U.S. and numerous networks abroad. At the close of the book, Dr. Brown presents a new interpretation of The Persistence of Memory and a look at illusion and meaning in Dalí’s The Skull of Zurbarán.   

Christopher Heath Brown is one of the most prominent private collectors of works by Salvador Dalí in the United States, and serves as the director of Brown Discoveries, a research institute focused on Renaissance, Surrealist, and Contemporary art.

Jean-Pierre Isbouts is an art historian, doctoral professor, and the author of fifteen National Geographic books, including The Biblical World, In the Footsteps of Jesus, and The Story of Christianity, which have sold over 2 million copies.