Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall

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  • Address
    cnr blvd Cimiez, 4 av Docteur Ménard, Arenes
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  • Phone
    04 93 53 87 20
  • Website
  • Transport
    bus: 15

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Lonely Planet review

The Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall houses the largest public collection of works by Belarusian painter Marc Chagall (1887-1985), known for his characteristic flying animals, flowers, violinists and kissing couples.The exuberant swathes of colour used by Chagall to illustrate Old Testament themes are set off by the severity of this purpose-built museum.

main hall contains 12 huge interpretations (1954-67) of stories from Genesis and Exodus. In an antechamber, an unusual mosaic of Elijah in his fiery chariot, surrounded by signs of the zodiac, is viewed through a plate-glass window and reflected in a small pond. Five paintings (1960s) based on the Song of Songs form the most startling series, an explosion of passionate red (in contrast to the sea greens, deep purples and blues of the main room) dedicated to his wife Vava.Take bus 15 to the Musée Chagall stop, or walk (signposted from av de l'Olivetto).