Chagall's paintings are in in two cathedrals as well as a hospital in Jerusalem and the UN in New York.
You can read a very comprehensive account of his life in Wikipedia.(Starting: (born Moishe Shagal; 6 July [O.S. 24 June] 1887 – 28 March 1985) was a Russian-French artist of Belarusian Jewish origin.) Some articles in Wikipedia are very brief but Chagall is well documented with an easy to follow account of his life and many pictures.
The striking thing about Chagall's early life is the support of his mother. She was a woman who ran a shop. She immediately took action when facing opposition from the local school (she bribed a professor). Chagall also had moral support from her. He ignored opposition of his father to becoming an artist. His first teacher of art was so impressed by Chagall's use of colour that the young man was allowed to study at the art school for free.
Unlike many great people who succeeded despite opposition, Chagall and his mother seemed to work on the principle of, if you can't beat them, join them. When he was a boy Jews were banished and confined the Jewish pale like a country wide 'field' or fenced area - the Irish also lived in a 'pale' - hence our expression, beyond the pale. to the Jewish children were not allowed to attend the secular schools open to the public, but were confined to the Jewish schools in their area.
If the story did not have a happy end, of a man who became successful, lived to a great age, and had several wives, it would make chilling reading. First, Chagall had survived a pogrom by denying that he was Jewish when accosted in the street by progromniks. (The first time I had read that word.)
We know all about his life from his own autobiography, 'My Life". In addition, the book about her time with Chagall by one of his wives. And, of course, his many paintings and art works, which would have attracted news reports.
I am surprised that the only museum connected with his life is in Belarus where he was born. I supposed it is great progress that it is where he was born and where he was not allowed to attend school. But now the town has a museum honouring his in his former home. Less than a hundred years later. On the other hand, never mind the background story, his paintings and stained glass windows are all over the world. And you can enjoy his artworks in your own private exhibition on the internet, and create your own temporary exhibition, selecting your favourite pictures in a blog post.
You can find several pictures in Wikipedia, supplemented by the official and unofficial websites devoted to him, and Wikimedia Commons is, as usual, a source of extra material which did not fit in the succinct summary in the main article.
Here is my selection for you.
Chagall Birthplace museum in Belarus
Birthplace in Vitebsk; also separate art museum with more than 300 art works by Chagall plus some by other famous artists.
https://www.belarus.by/en/travel/belarus-life/chagall-museum
Museum of art, Belarus
Jewish Wedding, 1910 private collection
Chagall Museum in Nice, France
Wow! The biggest collection of Chagall works anywhere in the world. More than 300.
All user-friendly displays starting with religious paintings by theme and in logical order, starting with 12 huge pictures on Biblical themes from Genesis and Exodus. (In what Jews simply call the bible, but Christians call The Old Testament because they added the New Testament.)
According to their website they were closed Tuesdays. Free one Sunday each month. Reductions for multi-site pass holders.
Closed since October 2020 because of Covid 19.
Another note of interest to us in our era is that he wife Bella died suddenly of a viral infection during wartime due to lack of medicine. A bit like Covid-19 now.
Our first stop in Switzerland was to see the Chagall windows in the cathedral size church. The church is on the lower side of the river. The art museum is on the other side of the river, uphill. We did a lot of walking in one day. Along the river, around the outside of the church to find the way in. Up the hill to the art gallery. Around the art gallery. Along the pedestrianised street to a restaurant. Back to our hotel.
You need to read a leaflet or book or hear a guide or recorded guide to understand all the symbols on all three windows, as well as the symbolism of the colours.
Traveller's Notes
Chagall birthplace Museum, Belarus
Chagall Museum, Nice, France
Chagall artwork, UN building, New York
Hadassah Hospital building stained glass windows, Jerusalem, Israel
Chagall stained glass windows, cathedral, Reims, France
Chagall stained glass windows, cathedral, Switzerland
Books About Chagall
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Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Chagall
https://en.nicetourisme.com/nice/183-musee-national-marc-chagall
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. She also draws caricatures and creates watercolour paintings. Link up on LinkedIn or Facebook and Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters on learncool.sg Please bookmark and share your favourite posts. Take a quick look at posts on dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
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