Collection: Le Paradis Perdu

A Surrealist Vision of Milton’s Epic, Paradise Lost

In his 1974 Fine Art suite Le Paradis Perdu (Paradise Lost), Salvador Dalí takes on the monumental task of illustrating John Milton’s 17th-century epic poem. Published by Editions de Francony for the Parisian Book Circle, a club within the Automobile club of France, this portfolio consists of 10 original etchings that explore the cosmic drama of the Fall of Man, the rebellion of the angels, and the haunting beauty of lost innocence. Dalí’s interpretation is characteristically surreal, moving away from traditional religious iconography to present the narrative as a psychological odyssey filled with dreamlike landscapes and ethereal, shifting figures.

The suite is a triumph of the intaglio technique, showcasing Dalí’s mastery of the etching needle. The lines are delicate and gossamer-thin, allowing for a transparency that captures the celestial and demonic elements of Milton’s verse with startling clarity. Dalí renders themes of temptation and expulsion not as historical events, but as universal subconscious experiences. Printed in two strictly limited editions, Paradis Perdu on Rives limited to 150 and Paradis Terreste on Lana limited to 225. The "Paradise Lost" illustrations stand as one of the most elegant and philosophically refined graphic works of Dalí’s later career, offering a bridge between the classical tradition of European literature and the avant-garde spirit of the 20th century.