Barcelona, Spain  - A 52-year-old Spanish woman is waiting for DNA test results to find out whether she is the daughter of surrealist painter Salvador Dali (1904-89).

Pilar Abel said Monday that she believed Dali to be her father, though she was still awaiting the results of a DNA test she did in Paris eight months ago.

Abel's lawyer was trying to obtain the results from the family of Dali's collaborator Robert Descharnes, which conserves DNA samples from the painter.

Descharnes' son Nicolas said the doctor performing the test had told him the result was negative, and that Abel would be informed as soon as the result was issued in writing.

Abel believes her mother to have met Dali in 1955, when the Spanish artist was 51 years old, in Cadaques in the north-eastern region of Catalonia, where Dali had a summer residence.

Abel's mother was then working for a Barcelona family which was holidaying in the area.

Abel's jobs have included reading tarot cards on local television. Salvador Dali is not known to have had children. (dpa)