DALI’S METAMORPHOSIS OF NARCISSUS. A BREAK WITH THE CLASSICAL TRADITION OR OVID’S STORY RETOLD IN AN INGENIOUS WAY?

Dali’s Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937; London, Tate Modern) is one of the most famous paintings of the Catalan surrealist as well as the most original treatment of the Narcissus myth in the 20th century painting. Its originality aroused curiosity from the very moment it was created and the masterpiece still attracts attention of the scholars. Although the scholarly approaches might differ considerably, the greater part of the studies concentrate on psychoanalytical interpretations. The aim of the article is, on the other hand, to examine how Dali’s painting relates to the Metamorphoses by Ovid as the main classical source of the Narcissus myth.