Salvador Dali at a press conference, London, 26 April 1955

Salvador Dali at a press conference, London, 26 April 1955. A photograph of the Spanish artist Salvador Dali (1904-1989), taken by K Lauder for the Daily Herald newspaper, at the press conference for the film of Richard III (1955) in London. He was there to meet the film's star and director, Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-1989). Dali was due to paint Olivier's portrait as Richard III. One of the most famous, charismatic and notorious artists of the twentieth century, Dali devoted himself to drawing and painting from an early age. Hugely influential as a Surrealist, one of his most famous paintings is 'The Persistence of Memory'. By the 1950s, Dali had turned to demonstrating scientific, historical and religious themes in his work. In later life he founded both the Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres, Spain and the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation, Pubol Castle, Spain - the latter to manage his legacy. ©SSPL/NMeM/Daily Herald Archive