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Salvador Dalí’s Remains Are Exhumed as Part of Paternity Suit Salvador Dalí’s Remains Are Exhumed as Part of Paternity Suit
(about 2 hours later)
The remains of the Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí were exhumed on Thursday night to help settle a paternity lawsuit filed by a woman claiming to be his daughter. The remains of the Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí were exhumed in Spain on Thursday night to help settle a paternity lawsuit filed by a woman who says she is his daughter.
Forensic experts opened the tomb of Dalí, in a crypt beneath the museum he designed for himself in his hometown, Figueres, which has also become one of Catalonia’s main tourism destinations. Forensics experts opened the tomb of Dalí, in a crypt beneath the museum he designed for himself in his hometown, Figueres, which has also become one of the Catalonia region’s main tourism destinations.
They collected samples to carry out a DNA test that a judge ordered last month. The results of the test are expected in a few weeks, which should allow the paternity case to resume in September.They collected samples to carry out a DNA test that a judge ordered last month. The results of the test are expected in a few weeks, which should allow the paternity case to resume in September.
If paternity is established, Pilar Abel, a 61-year-old Tarot card reader, could then claim part of the estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars that Dali left to the Spanish state.
The foundation that oversees the painter’s estate had unsuccessfully tried to appeal the exhumation order. The foundation’s secretary general, Lluís Peñuelas, said at a news conference on Friday morning that the exhumation was carried out in complete privacy but had nevertheless created “an uncomfortable situation” for those who feel close to Dalí.The foundation that oversees the painter’s estate had unsuccessfully tried to appeal the exhumation order. The foundation’s secretary general, Lluís Peñuelas, said at a news conference on Friday morning that the exhumation was carried out in complete privacy but had nevertheless created “an uncomfortable situation” for those who feel close to Dalí.
Ahead of the exhumation, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Spain’s culture minister, also described the procedure as a shame, but necessary if dictated by law. “It breaks my heart,” the minister told reporters on Thursday.Ahead of the exhumation, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Spain’s culture minister, also described the procedure as a shame, but necessary if dictated by law. “It breaks my heart,” the minister told reporters on Thursday.
The tombstone was lifted with a pulley to allow access to the painter’s coffin below. Forensic experts then collected hair, teeth and nail samples, as well as a couple of bones, which will be replaced once the DNA testing is completed.The tombstone was lifted with a pulley to allow access to the painter’s coffin below. Forensic experts then collected hair, teeth and nail samples, as well as a couple of bones, which will be replaced once the DNA testing is completed.
Pilar Abel, 61, a Tarot card reader, wants to be recognized as Dalí’s daughter, born as a result of what she has called a “clandestine love affair” that her mother had with the painter in the late 1950s in Port Lligat, the fishing village where Dalí and his Russian-born wife, Gala, built a waterfront house. Ms. Abel wants to be recognized as Dalí’s daughter, born as a result of what she has called a “clandestine love affair” that her mother had with the painter in the late 1950s in Port Lligat, the fishing village where Dalí and his Russian-born wife, Gala, built a waterfront house.
Dalí died at 84 in 1989, seven years after Gala, with whom he had had an unusual and childless relationship: Gala moved to a castle overlooking Púbol, another Catalan village, and Dalí could only visit her there if she extended a written invitation.Dalí died at 84 in 1989, seven years after Gala, with whom he had had an unusual and childless relationship: Gala moved to a castle overlooking Púbol, another Catalan village, and Dalí could only visit her there if she extended a written invitation.
Ms. Abel filed her lawsuit in 2015 against the Spanish government and the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation. In an interview shortly after starting legal action, she said that she wanted recognition as Dalí’s daughter and “after that, whatever corresponds to me.”Ms. Abel filed her lawsuit in 2015 against the Spanish government and the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation. In an interview shortly after starting legal action, she said that she wanted recognition as Dalí’s daughter and “after that, whatever corresponds to me.”
At the time, Ms. Abel explained that she filed the lawsuit, rather than her mother, Antonia Martínez de Haro, because her mother was in poor health and experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Abel’s mother spent several summers in Port Lligat, working mostly as a nanny for different families living near Dalí’s home. At the time, Ms. Abel explained that she, rather than her mother, Antonia Martínez de Haro, filed the lawsuit because the mother was in poor health and experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Abel’s mother spent several summers in Port Lligat, working mostly as a nanny for different families living near Dalí’s home.
The foundation said in a statement on Friday that it considered the exhumation “entirely inappropriate,” given that “there is no evidence that claimant Pilar Abel Martínez’s claim has any legal basis.”The foundation said in a statement on Friday that it considered the exhumation “entirely inappropriate,” given that “there is no evidence that claimant Pilar Abel Martínez’s claim has any legal basis.”
The foundation argued that instead of demanding Dalí’s exhumation, the judge should have ordered tests to compare Ms. Abel’s DNA with that of her legal father, who is deceased, or her brother, to establish that she is not her legal father’s biological child or her sibling’s full-blooded sister.The foundation argued that instead of demanding Dalí’s exhumation, the judge should have ordered tests to compare Ms. Abel’s DNA with that of her legal father, who is deceased, or her brother, to establish that she is not her legal father’s biological child or her sibling’s full-blooded sister.