Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, known simply as Gala, was the wife of which artist?

Gala Dalí (born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova), (7 September 1894 – 10 June 1982), usually known simply as Gala, was the wife of poet Paul Éluard and later of artist Salvador Dalí. She met husband Salvador Dali while still married to her first husband Éluard.

In early August 1929, Éluard and Gala visited a young Surrealist painter in Spain, the emerging Salvador Dalí. An affair quickly developed between Gala and Dalí, who was about 10 years younger than she. Dalí and Gala later married in a civil ceremony in 1934, and remarried in a Catholic ceremony in 1958. She was Dalí's muse, directly inspiring and appearing in many of his works.

Salvador Dalí (11 May 1904 – 23 January 1989), was a Spanish surrealist artist renowned for his technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and the striking and bizarre images in his work. He stated that Gala acted as his agent, and aided in redirecting his focus. According to most accounts, Gala had a strong libido and throughout her life had numerous extramarital affairs. In 1968, Dalí bought Gala the Castle of Púbol, Girona, Spain, where she would spend time every summer from 1971 to 1980. He agreed not to visit there without getting advance permission from her in writing.

His fears of abandonment and estrangement from her contributed to depression and failing health. After her death, Dalí moved to the castle in Púbol, where she was entombed.

She was an inspiration for many other artists including Louis Aragon, Max Ernst, and André Breton.