Flies abound in the Catalonian city of Girona due, in part to the legend of Sant Narcíssus, the patron saint of the city, near the hometown of Master Salvador Dali. The legend holds that, when the neighboring French forces sieged the city in 1286, they broke open the tomb of Saint Narcissus and a swarm of stinging flies poured out. The flies attacked the French soldiers who then fled in disarray. Since then, St. Narcissus, and the flies, have been venerated as heroes of the small hamlet, culminating in an annual festival in his name on October 29. Master Dali skillfully incorporates this legend into this collector-scale bronzework depicting the Patron Saint.

“I adore flies. I am only happy in the sun, naked and covered with flies…. I hate dirty flies. I only love the very cleanest flies”.