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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Marc Chagall, Hadassah-Hebrew University, stained-glass windows, Durene Jews

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Department

Art

Abstract

Marc Chagall was an artist keenly aware of his own historicity. He was familiar with contemporary artistic philosophies and movements as well of those of the past. Raised as an Orthodox Jew, Chagall had a firm understanding and passion for the history of Judaism and was fully cognizant of the role that he as an influential Jewish artist played in the story of his people. With this understanding of history, Chagall, upon accepting the commission in 1959 to do a series of stained glass windows for the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, conceptualized the work as a tribute to the past. In part, the windows were a tribute to a particular work of art, a synagogue wall painting produced in Dura Europos (modern Syria) in the 3rd century. In comparing the composition, symbolism, and subject matter used in the Durene work to those used in Chagall=s studies for the windows, the influence of the one on the other is apparent. Understanding why Chagall chose to reference the wall painting has, therefore, been the focus of my research.

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