It was very difficult to choose only 10 weird things about Salvador Dalí. He is widely known as one of the most eccentric artists in art history. And that manifests in his art, difficult character, and behavior. Dalí was enchanted by things like Freudian psychoanalysis, sadomasochism, fear of castration, or tarot reading… But here it is: 10 weird things about Salvador Dalí you should know!
1. His parents believed he was the reincarnation of his dead brother.
Salvador Dalí’s mother gave birth to her first son in 1901, but the poor child died of gastroenteritis at 22 months old. His name was… Salvador. Nine months after the child’s death, the second Salvador was born and named after his late brother.
When Dalí was five, his parents took him to first Salvador’s grave and informed him of their belief that he was the reincarnation of his own dead brother. This had a huge psychological effect on the boy.
2. He stole a wife from his friend.
In August 1929, Dalí met the love of his life: Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, better known as Gala. Unfortunately, Gala was already married to the French Surrealist poet Paul Eluard (and also involved in a romance with Max Ernst). But it wasn’t a big problem for Dalí and, in the end, Gala married Dalí in 1934. Even though she was 10 years older than him, they would remain together until her death in 1982. Gala became Dalí’s muse and business manager, her financial shrewdness supported his extravagant lifestyle. She was also famous for directing Dalí’s business by checking it out in Tarot cards.
You can read the story of Dalí and Gala here.
