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Musée National Marc Chagall, Nice | |
| Started with donations by Chagall himself, the museum has continued to be enriched by donations from Chagall family members and others. | ||
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The Chagall Museum in Nice is north of the center of town, up a hill, but easily reachable by bus. And it's well worth a visit! The 17 large canvasses called the Biblical Message form the heart of the collection. Donated by Chagall in 1966, the museum was built around them and was originally called the Musée national Message Biblique Marc Chagall. With additional donations by Chagall, other family members, friends, and museums, the scope of the collection expanded, and with it the name, to become the Musée National Marc Chagall. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum has also offered special exhibitions focusing on Chagall's work in stained glass, sculpture, woven works, and even music. In fact, the museum has a lovely concert hall which displays three large stained glass works by Chagall. The museum's large rooms allow for several of the Biblical Message paintings to be displayed near each other. The visitor can admire each one on its own, but also get a sense of the developing themes. Biblical scenes represented include The Creation of Man, Paradise/Adam and Eve, Moses and the Burning Bush, Noah's Ark, and more.
One room houses the five paintings representing the Song of Songs (Le Cantique des Cantiques). The red and pink pallette in these paintings is in sharp contrast to the others. Smaller paintings and sketches allow you to see how some of Chagall's work developed. Having visited the cathedrals in Metz and Reims and seen the Chagall stained glass in those two places, it was fascinating to see some of the background work. And if you want to see more Chagall, go to the Opéra Garnier in Paris and admire the beautiful ceiling! The museum also has a lovely garden and a small buvette or café where you can sit under the trees and enjoy a light lunch, a crèpe, or a dessert. The Musée National Marc Chagall is closed on Tuesdays. The museum accepts the French Riviera Pass (but it is not included on the Nice Museum Pass, since it is a national museum, not municipal). Musée National Marc Chagall
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Above, Abraham and the Three Angels.
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