The work of Marc Chagall can be compared with the whole Universe, because the characters of his paintings travel from one masterpiece to another, now and then finding themselves in unusual circumstances. And the artist himself during his life sought to go around the whole world in order to know its diversity. Expositions of these amazing paintings can be seen in Europe and America. However, the National Museum of Marc Chagall in Nice, the photo of which you see below, represents the largest collection of his works.
Why is the famous museum interesting?
Its opening took place in 1973, when the artist was still alive. The collection is based on 17 thematic paintings that are part of the Bible Message series. More than 300 works are also united by religious themes - they are a preparatory stage for the main paintings. Among the paintings there are graphics, sketches, sculptures, prints, lithography, embroidery, copper engraved boards, works made in oil and gouache. The Museum of Marc Chagall replenishes his collection so far, since the artist himself took an active part in its collection - he donated his paintings to the end of his life.
Foreign language paintings
The work of Marc Chagall is not easy to understand. He has a special artistic style, his paintings are permeated with religious and philosophical motives, there are allusions (hints) to his own life experience. Although a number of the artist’s works seem inaccessible to perception, nevertheless the Marc Chagall Museum beckons art lovers with its mystery. Let’s try and we reflect, reflect on his canvases.
For the first time the cycle "Bible Message" was presented to the public in 1966 in the Louvre, after which the artist presented these paintings to the French government. A friend of Marc Chagall and Minister of Culture Andre Maldro ordered to create a separate museum complex for them.
In the painting of Marc Chagall, religious themes occupy a significant place, and the cycle reflected it most fully. The parents of the future artist were pious, so the boy keenly felt the whole essence of Judaism. He began to create illustrations for the Bible early, but only after the Second World War the religious theme of his paintings received significant development.
Bible Message
Chagall "Bible Message" began to create in the 50s of the XX century, working in the town of Vence (France). This cycle was to take action aimed at reviving the forgotten and empty Chapel of the Rosary. But approaching the end of his life, the artist felt that the resulting paintings were of a universal humanistic orientation. Therefore, he decided to present them to the French government.
The cycle has two parts: twelve paintings. All of them are illustrations for the chapters of the Bible "Genesis" and "Exodus." They depict moments of a symbolic relationship between God and man. An interesting fact is the decision-making by Chagall himself about the location of paintings in the gallery. He deliberately abandoned the chronological order, replacing it with formal and religious correspondences.
The painting "Creation of man"
The Marc Chagall Museum keeps in a large room a picture that invariably attracts the attention of visitors - “Creation of Man.” Initially, the artist planned to place it on the altar of the chapel, which is why two planes are so clearly traced in it that it fully corresponds to the altar compositions - heavenly and earthly. The lower part shows an angel carrying Adam in his arms, whom he had just taken from the abyss of the primary ocean, where he was with the animals. In the upper right corner is the sun, around which people are located - this is how the artist imagined the course of the ordinary life of ordinary Jewish people. The crucified Jew Jesus is depicted, who was condemned to torture by compatriots.
“The Sacrifice of Isaac”
The Marc Chagall Museum also contains within its walls a work entitled “The Sacrifice of Isaac”, which shows an episode from the Bible when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son. The canvas, as in the previous case, is divided into two zones: at the top of the sky with soaring angels, at the bottom is a terrible scene. The figures of the characters are only outlined on the background of large color spots, which gives the plot a certain meaning. An angel is depicted on blue - it symbolizes the Divine word given from heaven. In the upper right corner is shown a plot from the Bible about the suffering of the descendants of Abraham, the artist constantly reminds of them. In his canvases there are often figures of mothers with babies, as well as scenes of the suffering of the crucified Christ, than Chagall focuses on the hardships suffered by the Jewish people. The lower part of the picture shows the flame of the Holocaust, in which Abraham and Isaac are conditionally located.
The general idea of these two paintings, according to Chagall's vision, is the submission of man to God. In addition to those listed, other paintings are presented by the Marc Chagall Museum in Nice.
How to get to the museum?
To get into it, you need to make a trip to the famous Mediterranean city. The Marc Chagall Museum in Nice has the following address: 36 avenue Docteur Ménard. The price of a ticket for a permanent exhibition is 6.5 euros. To visit a permanent and temporary exhibition, you need to pay 7.7 euros. The Marc Chagall Museum in Nice, whose opening hours from November to April are from 10 to 17 hours, and from May to October from 10 to 18 hours, can also be visited for free. This is permitted for the unemployed, students and children under 18 years of age. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, and holidays are also closed: January 1, May 1, December 25.
In the artist’s work, ancient Jewish traditions and innovative ideas were intertwined in an amazing way. He lived a long (almost 100 years) and fruitful life, often changing countries and cities. But from the paintings we can judge that national self-awareness was always present in him, while he remained a person living outside of the time and geographical boundaries.