Marc Chagall transmitted to the French Republic yesterday 67 of his works which are part of a series known as the “Biblical Message” on which the Russian born Jewish artist has been working for the last 15 years.
The 67 works will be displayed in a museum to be built at Nice on the Riviera to the artist’s specifications. The works include 17 oils and 50 gouaches, aquarelles and drawings on biblical themes. Two famous masterpieces in the group are “Moses and the Tables of the Law” and “The Creation of Man.” Many of the 67 worked have never been on display.
The 79-year-old painter signed over title to the works at a ceremony in Nice which was attended by a representative of Andre Malraux, Minister of Culture. Mr. Chagall will be the consultant for the Chagall Museum, which will be built at Cimiez in a huge park which is part of Nice. A Matisse Museum already has been opened at the site. The Chagall Museum will not be completed before 1969. By then the artist plans to donate more of his works.
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