Marc Chagall’s Chicago mosaic. “Les Quatre Saisons” (The Four Seasons), was dedicated here Friday in a public ceremony at the First National Plaza. The Jewish artist came here from his home in the south of France to officially unveil the gift which took two years to create. Chagall said he chose the four seasons theme because “There will be many people going through this plaza in the heart of the city of Chicago. In my mind, the four seasons represent human life, both physical and spiritual; at its different stages.
The artist first visited this city some 30 years ago for an exhibit of his work at the Chicago Art Institute and to give a lecture at the University of Chicago. He returned in 1958 to lead a seminar of the Committee of Social Thought which was chaired by William Wood Prince. The mosaic, which includes 128 panels, was underwritten by Mr. and Mrs. Prince through personal gifts to the Prince Foundation. It is owned by the Art in Center. Inc. a non-profit organization forced to own the mosaic and for other public art purposes, and will be maintained by the First National Bank of Chicago.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.