Dimensions
217 x 241 x 9mm
On the fiftieth anniversary of the new ceiling painted by Chagall for the Paris Opera in 1964, this richly illustrated volume tells the story behind the creation of a remarkable composition. An introduction sets the work in its context, and is followed by an account of the controversy that that raged for years around this startling commission by Andre Malraux, Minister for Cultural Affairs. A discussion of Chagall's other large-scale work in a variety of media, in both France and America, sets the great ceiling composition in the context of the artist's oeuvre, and reveals it as the culmination of his monumental work. Finally, a thematic description of the work explores its shimmering palette and its composition based on five 'petals': white for Rameau and Debussy; red for Ravel and Stravinsky; yellow for Tchaikovsky and Adam; blue for Mussorgsky and Mozart; and green for Wagner and Berlioz, with Gluck, Beethoven, Verdi and Bizet placed in the central 'sun'. A detailed table of illustrations and bibliography complete this sumptuous and scholarly exploration of a celebrated masterpiece. Text in English and French. 100 colour illustrations
