At his death in 1985 aged 97, Marc Chagall was the world's greatest living artist. From his youth in pre-Revolutionary Russia, through years of exile in Germany and America, to when he settled permanently in France after World War II, his artistic output was unceasing. He developed a very personal imagery of flying lovers, rabbis, curious hybrid animals, and scenes of Paris, as well as his native Vitebsk. This, coupled with his extraordinarily vibrant use of colour, means that whether it was painted in 1910 or 1975, a Chagall is always recognizable as a Chagall.Although he was aware of and frequently associated with artists of the avant-garde,such as Malevich in Russia, or Picasso in France, Chagall made use of their innovations only when it suited his own artistic vision.

Chagall had been born to a poor Jewish family in 1887. As an adult he was not a practising Jew, but the imagery of the Old Testament and the trappings and symbolism of Jewish worship recur frequently in his paintings.This aspect of his work brought him many ecclesiastical commissions, both Jewish and Christian, and culminated in the opening in 1973 of the Musee Message Biblique Marc Chagall in Nice. This National Museum, designed around and devoted to his religious works, was a unique honour for a living artist.

In this new and comprehensive monograph,from Magna Books, art historian Dr Shearer West analyses Chagall"s work, taking into account the latest research. A lengthy introduction chronicles his life and is illustrated with his mosaics, etched Bible illustrations,ceramics, photographs of the artist at work,his patrons, friends, and family, as well as influential works by other artists. This is followed by a selection of nearly 50 paintings,theatre designs, and stained glass. Each largescale full-colour example is accompanied by a lucid text which sets each work in context and explains the complex imagery, giving fresh insights into Chagall"s fantasy-world.

Introduction

Self-Portrait with Brushes

My Fiancee in Black Gloves

Portrait of the Artist"s Sister (Aniuta)

The Sabbath

Dedicated to my Fiancee

The Soldier Drinks

Homage to Apollinaire

The Poet Mazin

Half-Past Three (The Poet)

Temptation

Nude with Comb

The Cattle Dealer

Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers

The Rabbi

The Violinist

Paris Through the Window

Pregnant Woman

Above Vitebsk

David in Profile

The Smolensk Newspaper

The Praying Jew (Rabbi of Vitebsk)

Purim

Lovers Above the Town

Double Portrait with a Glass of Wine

Composition with Goat

The Blue House

Cubist Landscape

The Green Violinist

Window on the Ile de Brehat

Ida at the Window

The Dream

Flowers and Fowl

The Cock

The Acrobat

Circus Rider

Abraham Preparing to Sacrifice his Son

The Wailing Wall

Solitude

White Crucifixion

The Martyr

The Juggler

The War

In the Night

The Fall of the Angel

The Exodus

Le Champ de Mars

Abraham and the Three Angels

The Tribe of Reuben

The Tribe of Simeon

The Tribe of Zebulun

The Tribe of Issacher

Paradise

Ceiling of the Paris Opera House

War

The Walk

Acknowledgments