Iconic Dali Painting Leaves Kelvingrove On Loan

The iconic Salvador Dali painting Christ of St John of the Cross is leaving its permanent home at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum to go on loan.

The painting, a highlight of Scotland’s most visited tourist attraction, has come down in preparation for its trip to The High Museum in Atlanta, USA were it will spend six months on loan as the highlight of an exhibition examining Dali’s later works.

It is the first time Christ of St John of the Cross has been sent out on loan since 1990 and the painting is due to return to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in February 2011 where it will be displayed in a new location. The painting was bought for Glasgow’s collection in the early 1950s and was voted Scotland’s favourite painting in 2007, receiving 29%.

Councillor George Redmond, a spokesman for Glasgow Life, said: “The Iconic Christ of St John of the Cross is the key exhibit in this summer’s Dali exhibition at the High Museum of Atlanta. This loan agreement includes a commitment to find out much more about this Glasgow treasure and how important it was to Dali’s career before it returns early next year.