Background
Descharnes was born in Nevers on January 1, 1926.
Descharnes was born in Nevers on January 1, 1926.
He is best known for his collaboration with Salvador Dali, on whom he authored many reference books In 1950, he met Dali on a ship while he was the photographer. The two formed a close bond, and collaborated on the experimental film L"Aventure prodigieuse de la dentellière et du rhinocéros, which was never released.
He became Dali"s personal secretary in 1981, and rescued him from a fire at his apartment in 1984.
Descharnes collected over 60,000 negatives of Dali"s daily life, a fraction of which Descharnes infrequenty exhibited in art museums. Foreign over 40 years, he fought to protect"s Dali"s legacy from forgeries and fakes.
He wrote several reference books on the man"s life and work. Descharnes was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2011.
He died at the age of 88 at his home in Indre-et-Loire on February 18, 2014.
I indicate on this occasion that I passed on to him knowledge and competence as for the work of Salvador Dalí and that he is the heir of my capacities of expertise.".