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Apocalypse in Lilac, Capriccio

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  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.
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