L’universo spirituale di Marc Chagall – Exhibition

The town of Lucca hosts “Chagall’s Spiritual Universe” in the picturesque setting of the Church of San Cristoforo. On show, twenty precious oils and mixed media on canvas by the Russian master dating from 1959 to 1982. These are extraordinary, small paintings which explore the artist’s inner world, nourished by his childhood memories set in Vitebsk.
Nostalgia is clearly present in works like “L’âne blanc dans le bouquet”, 1960-1965, or the dreamy “Profil du peintre”, from his latter period, where the artist’s mind returns to his birthplace.
Particular attention is given to Love whether it blossoms in a tender embrace when touching a floral triumph (“Le bouquet jaune”, c. 1975) or in a romantic ride in the sky to conquer the sun (“Dans le ciel de Saint-Paul”, c.1980). And, naturally, the circus theme could not be overlooked in the study of Chagall’s poetic expression where reality and fantasy coexist in parallel with the grace of movements and the role of the mask that preserves innocence with “Le clown au visage bleu” (c. 1980) or “Le trapéziste” (1978-1980). When Chagall potrays himself in “Le peintre au village” (1980-1982), he does so not only “en plein air” but “en plein esprit” depicting himself at work surrounded by the essential places and elements of his poetics.
“Le roi David” (1980), touches upon religion, a theme which was particularly dear to the artist. The exhibition also includes one hundred and five copper engravings dedicated to the Bible dating between 1931 and 1939 that accompany the limited edition publication, signed by the author himself and conceived by Ambroise Vollard.
The project was conceived and curated by Stefania Trolli’s Lalla’s Join in collaboration with Luciano Caprile with the participation of SEM-ART Gallery, Monaco.
The exhibition is promoted and organised by the San Cristoforo Association and is sponsored by the Diocese and the municipal and provincial authorities.