Description:This passionate and ardent portrayal of the Christian icon, Moses, is depicted here clutching onto the famed tablets of the 10 Commandments. Aptly titled, this was part of a series of illustrations of Moses for his collective thematic works, The Bible. Clouds of fuschia, pink, and red inundate Moses who is highlighted with brilliant shades of lapis blue and scattered, expressive lines. This piece is a wonderful example of Chagall's creativity and vision with this articulate and arduous process of color lithography. Perfected tones of ruby reds radiate into foggy hues of purple and pink set against bold blues and subtle greys; they all come together to form a humanized and characteristic portrayal of Moses whose iconography and history go hand-in-hand with the pair of tablets, shown here.
Created in 1956, this color lithograph was featured as part of a series of 105 engravings made by Marc Chagall between 1930 - 1955 to illustrated The Bible, originally started by Vollard in 1930. Published by Verve, Paris and printed by Tériade, Paris on Arches paper, this work was created out of the edition of 75. Numbered 30/75 in pencil in the lower left margin, Moses is hand-signed by Marc Chagall (1887 - 1985) in pencil in the lower right margin.
PROVENANCE:
- From the estate of Gottfried Dietze
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work) :
1. Gauss, Ulrike, ed. Marc Chagall - The Lithographs, La Collection Sorlier. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 126 on pg. 89.
2. Mourlot, Fernand. The Lithographs of Chagall, vol. I, 1922 - 1957. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 126 on pgs. 152 and 155; detailed on pg. 149.
3. Sorlier, Charles. Marc Chagall, The Illustrated Books, 1990. 'The Bible' listed and illustrated on pgs 62-81.
About the Framing:
Framed in museum-quality, archival materials, this work is set in a Spanish style bronze leaf frame. The muted tones of the bronze moulding compliments the black, outer frame and also highlights the tones and textures of the highly detailed landscape. Le Bouquet Vert et Violet is completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet and set behind an archival Plexiglas cover.
