Sunday Dalí: Asummpta Corpuscularia Lapislazulina, 1952. Oil on canvas, 230 x 144 cm, private collection.

This gigantic work repeats several of the images seen in Raphaelesque Head Exploding from the previous year. The Pantheon can be seen at the top of the painting, the top of which forms Gala’s (playing the part of the virgin mother) halo.

Rhinoceros horns, nails, and other shapes make up the swirling vortex of Gala’s body either disintegrating or integrating. Dalí said that Gala was rising to heaven with the aid of “anti-matter Angels”.