Ambroise Vollard knew to generate intense artistic impulses through major publishing projects. He invited Chagall to illustrate the Bible.
This project excites the artist who performs in 1931 a trip to Palestine to find the roots of Judaism and exacerbate his vision of antique lifestyle. Later, he studied the mystical art through Rembrandt and el Greco. During this phase, Chagall prepared the first 32 plates.
He continues. His synthesis between antiquity and modernity is dramatized by the events that make him compare the persecution of the Jews with the Passion of Christ. In 1956, a quarter century after the start of the project, Chagall executes the last picture of his Bible.
Vollard died in 1939 and it was left to Tériade to print in 1958 in 100 copies the 105 views of Chagall's La Bible. The artist's work is not finished: he hand colors the images and signs his initials in pencil. The image size is 25 x 31 cm on 39 x 53 cm Arches paper.
A complete album was sold for $ 295K including premium by Christie's on 1 May 2002. Also complete, a portfolio is estimated $ 250K for sale by Bonhams in San Francisco on October 20, lot 42.
SOLD for $ 280K including premium
Rare #Chagall masterpiece at BonhamsSF #Prints & Multiples auction http://t.co/au1tcQr4Bx. Viewing this weekend! pic.twitter.com/Q0T1xC60q1
— BONHAMS (@bonhams1793) October 17, 2015