Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)

1954
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 624
Dalí utilized his theory of "nuclear mysticism," a fusion of Catholicism, mathematics, and science, to create this unusual interpretation of Christ’s crucifixion. Levitating before a hypercube—a geometric, multidimensional form—Christ’s body is healthy, athletic, and bears no signs of torture; the crown of thorns and nails are missing. The artist’s wife, Gala, poses as a devotional figure, witnessing Christ’s spiritual triumph over corporeal harm. Several dreamlike elements from Dali’s earlier Surrealist work feature in this painting: a levitating figure, vast barren landscape, and chessboard.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)
  • Artist: Salvador Dalí (Spanish, Figueres 1904–1989 Figueres)
  • Date: 1954
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 76 1/2 × 48 3/4 in. (194.3 × 123.8 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Chester Dale Collection, 1955
  • Object Number: 55.5
  • Rights and Reproduction: © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

Audio

Cover Image for After *Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)*

After Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)

Alex Dimitrov

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