Cornelius author and surgeon Christopher Brown

March 3. Cornelius art historian and surgeon Dr. Christopher Brown and literary partner Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts have published a groundbreaking new book on Salvador Dalí, one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century.

In “The Dali Legacy: How an Eccentric Genius Changed the Art World and Created a Lasting Legacy” (Apollo Publishers, $26.99) Brown and Isbouts reveal why Dalí’s visual wit still impacts fashion, literature and art more than 20 years after his death.

Brown himself

Brown is one of the most prominent collectors of works by Salvador Dalí in the United States.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then completed his dental education at the University of North Carolina and graduated with honors in 1986. He got his board certification from the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and has presented and published to both national and international audiences.

Brown and his wife Sabrina live in a lakefront home filled with art—including works by Dali and Renoir—and furniture from Gianni Versace.

The Dali ‘brand’

Brown said Dalí was a pioneer in establishing himself as a brand—the archetype of the nonconformist, provocative, exciting genius.

Spanish Civil War

Brown and Isbouts relate Dalí’s activity to the turbulent events of the mid-20th century including the rise of Fascism and the Spanish Civil War, as well as his close relationship with the Franco regime after World War II.

Brown and Isbouts previously co-authored three critically acclaimed books on Leonardo da Vinci, including “Young Leonardo,” “The Mona Lisa Myth” and “The Da Vinci Legacy.”

They have also produced two documentaries, “The Search for the Last Supper” and “The Search for the Mona Lisa,” which aired on PBS stations in the U.S. and numerous networks abroad.