After watching a clip of Dali on 1950’s game show ‘The Name’s the Same’ I went on a bit of a Dali dive. It had been a while since seeing exhibitions of his work at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA where I truly fell in love with his genius. Just as Caravaggio had moved me as a child, Dali was inspiring me as a young college student.

I stumbled on this image of Dali during my research. It was photographed as part of a series by Dali’s friend Philippe Halsman. It happened to be one of the more linear narratives from the set.

The pose with its irreverence for the canvas - note the foot on the easel- and the slacked shoulders suggest an arrogance of talent and ability. It’s an irreverence I imagine I could have some day.

The canvas is turned away from the viewer in this photograph. Unlike my interpretation which exposes the surface of the canvas, this version of Dali doesn’t care about the result, simply the process and the experience.

What Dali is wearing I don’t know but my Artist is in a Liverano & Liverano suit.

This photo of Simon Crompton from Permanent Style does a good job of exemplifying the Liverano & Liverano details. The strong shoulder with light roping. The straight cut lapel with large roll and high button.

The details are expressed with a much different posture in The Artist painting. A rested elbow drops the shoulder and allows the jacket to slack a bit down his left side.

The stiff, outstretched right arm pulls the fabric and bunches it along the arm.

An open jacket hides the exaggerated roll and high buttons.

The Artist is not Dali and I love Italian painting thus the Italian villa setting.
Behind the model is a painting from the Basilica di Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome. On the left wall is a painting by Heinrich Füger, Prometheus Brings Fire to Mankind. One the right wall is a detail of Hermes from a ceiling fresco at the Wurzburg Residence, the largest ceiling fresco in the world.

Ultimately I love the idea of an artist as a style icon. And as an artist is a master of their craft I like the idea of an artist wearing the craft of master clothiers such Liverano & Liverano.