Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Abraham and the three Angels, 1960-1966 - Oil on canvas. H. 190 ; l. 292 cm - Nice, musée national Marc Chagall, Deposit of the Centre Pompidou - © Photo Rmn-GP (musée Marc Chagall) - © Adagp, Paris 2020 - Chagall ® - © Rmn-Grand Palais, Paris 2020
The composition is structured...
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Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Abraham and the three Angels, 1960-1966 - Oil on canvas. H. 190 ; l. 292 cm - Nice, musée national Marc Chagall, Deposit of the Centre Pompidou - © Photo Rmn-GP (musée Marc Chagall) - © Adagp, Paris 2020 - Chagall ® - © Rmn-Grand Palais, Paris 2020
The composition is structured by the horizontal of the bench in the foreground and given rhythm by the vertical play of the figures. The bright colour of the background, the red of life and love, which is also that of the background of the icons whose gold is worn, highlights the whiteness of the wings of the three angels, a distant reminder of those of the icon of the Trinity, by Andreï Roublev (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow).
The figures of Abraham and Sarah, pushed to the left, seem to be struck with astonishment by the news of the birth of a son at their advanced age. In the speech bubble at the top right, Chagall depicts the following episode from the Bible: Abraham learns from the angels of God's will to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
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