A paternity test has disproved a Spanish woman’s claim that she is the daughter of surrealist artist Salvador Dali, the deceased painter’s foundation announced Wednesday.
The Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation said in a written statement that the Madrid court that ordered the DNA test informed it that Pilar Abel, a 61-year-old tarot card reader, is not biologically related to Dali.
Pilar Abel claimed that her mother had an affair with Salvador Dali in Figueres, Spain, and that she was his daughter. On Wednesday, Dali’s foundation announced that DNA evidence had disproved her claim. (Francisco Seco/Associated Press)
Abel has long alleged her mother had an affair with Dali and claimed she had the right to part of his vast estate. The foundation said it was happy the “absurd” claim had been resolved.
Calls to Abel’s lawyer were unanswered.
A judicial spokesman told The Associated Press the court has not made the test results public but has informed the parties in the lawsuit. He spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with court rules.
The high-profile paternity claim led to the exhumation of Dali’s embalmed remains so genetic samples could be taken. Forensic experts removed hair, nails and two long bones in July.
The foundation, which manages Dali’s estate on behalf of the Spanish state, said at the time of the exhumation that Dali’s remains — including his famous moustache — were well-preserved and mummified after an embalming process almost three decades ago.
The foundation said the painter’s remains will be returned to his coffin, which is buried in the Dali Theatre-Museum in the northeastern Spanish town of Figueres, Dali’s birthplace. Dali died at age 84 in 1989.
People walk past a stone of Salvador Dali’s tomb inside the Teatre-Museu Dali (Theatre-Museum Dali) in Figueres, north of Barcelona, Spain. Dali’s foundation said his remains would be returned to his coffin after being exhumed for DNA testing. (Albert Gea/Reuters)
Abel claimed her mother had an affair with Dali while working as a domestic helper in Figueres. She said her grandmother revealed the family secret when Abel was still young and that her mother confirmed the story years later.
