In 1952 Dr Tom Honeyman saw Christ of St John of the Cross at an exhibition at Lefevre's gallery in London. Honeyman was Director of Glasgow Museums.
He was strangely moved by it and became aware it was having a similar effect on others.
On his return to Glasgow he began negotiations with Dali’s agent. And eventually Glasgow Corporation unanimously approved the purchase of the picture.
The price of £8,200 for the painting was considered by many people to be too high.
However, it had been reduced from £12,000 and included copyright. This turned out to be a masterstroke by Dr Honeyman.
The purchase cost the ratepayers of Glasgow nothing. It was acquired using the last of the fund set up from the profits of the great Kelvingrove International Exhibition of 1901. The fund was to be used to buy objects and works of art for the City's museums.
The reproduction fees from print and postcard sales over the years have justified Honeyman's decision many times over. But the prestige bestowed on Glasgow and the civic art collection has been incalculable.