Marc Chagall

Artist's Biography

Born: July 7, 1887 City and Country of Origin: Vitsyebsk, Russia Painting School: Art Training: local artist Juriy (Judel) Pen; school of the Arts Encouragement Society, St. Petersburg; Art School of Ekaterine Zvantseva Exhibitions: Awards: Major Works:"I and the Village," "Le Couple," "Cows over Vitsyebsk" Mark Zakharovich Shagal Biography: Marc was the oldest of 8 children born to a herring salesman. After studying at a Judaic primary school, he attended the town's 4 year trade school. His interest in painting led him to attend the studio of Juriy (Judel) Pen for 2 months where he copied from plaster heads and ornaments as instructed by the teacher. As a result of his studies he was able to secure a position as a retoucher. He went to St. Petersburg to continue his studies where he entered the school of the Arts Encouragement Society after failing to gain entrance to Baron Stiglits's School of Arts and Trades. There he spent 2 uninspiring years before entering Art School of Ekaterine Zvantseva in 1910. While attending his work caught the eye of famous Rusian lawyer Maxim Vinaker who became his patron offering him 125 francs a month to study in Paris. In May of 1914 his first exhibit was organized at the Berlin Gallery. That same year he returned to Russia where he married Bella (Berta) Rosenfeld in 1915. It was at this time that World War I was beginning and he could not gain reentry into France. He served in the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Central Industry-Military Committee. He was still there during the October, 1917 Communist Revolution. He turned down a position in the Culture Ministry and returned home to Vitsyebsk where he became Art Commissioner. Chagall soon became the head of the Art School whose intructors included famed painter Kasimir Malevitch. On June 29, 1920 he left with his family for Moscow, at the time not aware that he would never again see his home town. In 1921 he went to Kaunas to organize an exhibition of his work. From there he went on to Berlin where a gallery owner wished to publish the artist's memoirs. Due to translation problems the work was not completed until 1931. He stayed in France until 1941 when he entered the United States. Later he would learn that his home town was mostly destroyed during the Second World War. The town was the main theme of many of his works. Died: November 15, 1951 To view the paintings of Marc Chagall Please Click Here!

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