Marc Chagall - Studies for the Jerusalem Windows

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Ma rc Cha ga l l

Li thogra p hi c Stud i es for the Jerus a l em W i nd ow s


5. Zebulun

10. Naphtali

7. Dan

6. Issachar

O RD E R O N 0 1 5 7 2 8 2 1 4 2 4


9. Asher

1. Reuben

2. Simeon

3. Levi ÂŁ450 each framed


11. Joseph

12. Benjamin

8. Gad

4. Judah visit www.goldmarkart.com


The Lithographs

The Twelve Tribes

by Mourlot Frères, 1962.

2. Simeon

32.5 x 24.5 cm, printed in Paris

1. Reuben

7. Dan

Price £450

3. Levi

9. Asher

each including

frame, vat and uk delivery.

Special arch-top mount

8. Gad

4. Judah

10. Naphtali

6. Issachar

12. Benjamin

5. Zebulun

11. Joseph

Special offer

The complete set of all twelve lithographs in an oak frame with arch-top windows £4500

ORDER ON 01572 821424 visit www.goldmarkart.com


Ma rc Cha ga l l

Li thogra p hi c S tud i es for the Jerus a l em W i nd ow s

In 1959 Chagall was commissioned by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, to design twelve stained glass windows for the new synagogue of the HadassahHebrew University Medical Centre situated in the Judean hills west of Jerusalem. The windows are set within a large lantern-turret, lighting a square floor space beneath, with three windows on each of the four sides facing the cardinal points. Many civilizations have considered the numbers three and four to be of great symbolic importance as their sum is seven and their product twelve –

sacred numbers governing spiritual, astrological and earthly matters. The number twelve has connotations with the signs of the Zodiac and, of particular significance to the synagogue, these magnificent windows symbolize the twelve sons of Jacob from whom sprang the twelve tribes of Israel. Chagall took great pleasure in his designs - The synagogue shall be a crown for the Jewish Queen and the windows shall be the jewels in that crown . . . There is the light of the sky in these windows and the participation of the good Lord. They have completely transformed my vision. Consequently Chagall was very keen that his designs for the Jerusalem Windows should be more widely disseminated and he was closely involved with the

production of the set of lithographs based upon his progressive studies for the windows. The prints were created by the world famous fine art printers Mourlot Frères of Paris, some of them requiring between fifteen and twenty colours. Chagall’s enthusiasm and insistence upon exacting standards was noted by publisher James Parton who wrote, the artist [Chagall] worked with the artisans every step of the way, insisting on perfection. For example, he stood beside the lithographer, a master craftsman named Charles Sorlier, to watch the single sheets pass through the hand-fed stone press, one colour at a time . . . e.g. six blues, to catch every nuance of shading. And Chagall threw out the whole first set of gravure plates: the yellow, he felt, was off a shade.

GOLDMARK GALLERY UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15 9SQ 01572 821424 Open Monday to Saturday 9.30 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00 and Bank Holidays www.goldmarkart.com info@goldmarkart.com


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