Apocalypse in Lilac, Capriccio

Apocalypse in Lilac, Capriccio (1945)

Apocalypse in Lilac, Capriccio is a gouache painting by the Russian-born artist Marc Chagall, from 1945. The 51 by 35.5 cm (20-inch by 14-inch) work was created by Chagall in response to the devastation brought by the Holocaust. It references Jesus Christ, like some others of his paintings of this time.

Description

Its imagery consists of a crucified Jesus, wearing tefillin screaming at a Nazi storm trooper, while other acts of violence – another crucifixion, a man being hanged and an adult male stabbing a child – can be seen in the background while an inverted clock falls out of the sky.[1]

Overview

Chagall kept the painting in his personal collection. It was initially sold by the artist's son in 1985 to a private collector in France. In October 2009, it was purchased by the Ben Uri Gallery & Museum for US$43,000, despite estimates after the historical context correctly understood and researched by Ben Uri was released and recognised by the international community that it could be worth more than $1.5 million,[2] and was publicly displayed for the first time in January 2010.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Randy Kennedy (January 1, 2010). "Small Museum Captures a Rare Chagall". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  2. ^ Rashid Razaq and Julia Kennard (January 4, 2010). "Apocalypse wow: how gallery got a bargain Chagall". London Evening Standard.
  3. ^ "Small Jewish museum buys rare Chagall". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. January 4, 2010. Retrieved 2009-01-10.