Salvador Dali was a brilliant artist who painted amazing surrealistic paintings. Wife Gala Dali had a great influence on his work and for half a century was his muse.
Gala Dali and her life before meeting a genius
Gala Dali became famous thanks to her brilliant husband-artist. He idolized her and considered him his muse. The real name of the wife of Salvador Dali is Elena Dyakonova. She was born in Kazan in 1894. Her parents divorced, after which Elena's mother married a second time and the family moved to Moscow. Elena was a very painful child. When she was 19 years old, her parents sent her to Switzerland to be treated for tuberculosis. In the sanatorium, the French poet Eugene-Emile-Paul Grandel was resting. He really fell in love with a girl from Russia. But the relationship did not work out right away. The father of the young man was a major real estate dealer, a respected person. He did not want to accept the new love of his son.
The wedding of Helen and the French poet took place only a few years later, during which they actively corresponded. At that time, her lover was already known as Paul Eluard. The poet gave his wife another name - Gala (with emphasis on the last syllable). In his native language, it means "holiday." Gala Dali was an extraordinary woman. Her contemporaries said that she was not beautiful even in her youth, but amazing magnetism emanated from her. Gala knew how to make a splash in society and interest any man. Even before meeting her first husband, she decided that it would never be hard to work, and her fate was “like shining coconut, smelling of perfume and always have well-groomed hands with manicured nails”.
A year after the wedding, Gala gave birth to her husband Cecile's daughter. Soon, family life bored her. She was interested in the German sculptor Max Ernst. She not only did not try to hide the new romance from her husband, but also convinced him to live together. The love triangle has existed for several years.
Meet Salvador Dali
At the time of the meeting with Salvador, Dali Gala was already an adult woman. She turned 36 years old, and Salvador was only 25 years old. Acquaintance took place in the house of the artist. Gala came there with her husband. Dali was fascinated by a new friend after the first meeting. The novel developed rapidly. The legitimate husband knew about his wife’s relationship with the Spanish artist, but did not want to share his muse with him. He felt that this hobby was very serious. When Gala faced a choice, she left her husband and daughter and went to Dali.
The Spanish artist recalled that she not only aroused passion, but also incited creativity. He called her the "demoness of genius." Before meeting her, he did not meet with women, did not enter into intimate relations with them and was very notorious. With his beloved, he felt like a real man.
This couple was strange in every way. Gala not only inspired the artist, but also posed for him, was his muse and at the same time manager. Gala found rich and influential people and invited them to invest in the work of Salvador Dali. Many relatives of the artist were not enthusiastic about his choice and believed that the sensual and helpless in everyday life, Salvador came under the influence of a prudent, treacherous woman. When the paintings of Salvador were not for sale, she advised him to make figurines and paint vases of bizarre shapes. Gala persuaded the artist to move to the United States. There he was waiting for incredible success and glory. When Dali got everything he wanted, he and his lover returned to Europe.
Dali married his muse only 29 years after the first meeting. The wedding was secret and not even his relatives were invited to it. It took place in 1958 after the death of the first husband of Elena Dyakonova.
