In 1923, Marc Chagall fled the Soviet Union and settled in France where he began working with the Parisian art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. After commissioning Chagall to illustrate Nicolai Gogol's Les Ames mortes (Dead Souls) and Jean de La Fontaine's Fables, Vollard asked the artist to do a series of prints based on the Bible.

Chagall began work on this series in 1931. Traveling to Palestine, he completed a number of studies in gouache that served as models for 'The Bible' series engravings. By 1939, at the time of Ambroise Vollard's death, Chagall had finished sixty-six etchings. Vollard's death, along with Chagall's imprisonement for a brief period under the Vichy government, put a hold on the creation of 'The Bible' series. Following this experience, Chagall moved to New York. In 1948 he returned to France permanently, where he continued with 'The Bible' series project, finishing the black and white portfolio in 1956.

The illustrated scenes come from twelve books of the Bible including The Book of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations and Ezekiel. Chagall's images often focus on the complex relationship between God and man. Men are called by God to perform great acts, but remain very human, capable of weakness, doubt, deception, lust, and treachery. We see this in such prints as those that illustrate the story of Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel, who deceives his father, Isaac, in order to receive a blessing in place of his brother. The story of Joseph, who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. And the story of David, who lusts after Bathsheba, subsequently sending an innocent man to his death.

'The Bible' series, illustrated with 105 engravings made by Marc Chagall, between 1930 and 1955, was ultimately published by Teriade in 1956. Teriade also brought out an issue of the review 'Verve' (nos. 33-34) which was exclusively devoted to reproductions, made by the photogravure process, of all 105 of the original etchings. For this number of 'Verve', Chagall composed 16 full-page color lithographs (of which we picture 15 on our website), and 12 in black and white, in addition to the cover and the title page. A total of 6,500 copies of the review were printed. All the color lithographs were printed separately in an edition of 75 copies numbered and signed on Arches paper. All the black and the white lithographs were also printed in an edition of 75 copies on the Arches paper, but only 5 of these: nos. 136-137-144-146, were numbered and signed.

Marc Chagall also completed several other suites based on the Bible including a set of color lithographs executed in1960, seven pieces from his 1966 large-scale series, The Story of Exodus, and a series of twelve 20-color lithographs executed in collaboration with his master printer Charles Sorlier devoted to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Please contact Mirol Art if you are interested in any additional original Marc Chagall artwork from the The Bible series, or other original art by Marc Chagall such as his lithographs, linocut prints, aquatints, posters, etchings, and signed posters. We have an extensive collection of Marc Chagall art. Also we are always buying and accepting on consignment original artwork as well so feel free to call or email us to discuss your art with us.

Drawings for the Bible
Cover
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-1/8 x 22-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
The Face of Israel
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Paradise
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1200

Drawings for the Bible
Paradise
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1500

Drawings for the Bible
Creation
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Adam & Eve and the Forbidden Fruit
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1400

Drawings for the Bible
Eve Incurs God's Displeasure
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Adam & Eve are Banished from Paradise
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$900

Drawings for the Bible
Cain and Abel
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$700

Drawings for the Bible
Sarah and Abimelech
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Sarah and the Angels
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$700

Drawings for the Bible
Hagar in the Desert
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Rachel Hides Her Father's Household gods
Verve 1960
marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Tamar, Daughter-in-law of Judah
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$700

Drawings for the Bible
Rahab and the Spies of Jericho
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Naomi and her Daughters-in-law
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Ruth Gleaning
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Meeting of Ruth and Boaz
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1100

Drawings for the Bible
Ruth at the Feet of Boaz
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Boaz Wakes up and Sees Ruth at his Feet
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$1000

Drawings for the Bible
David Saved by Michal
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$900

Drawings for the Bible
Ahasuerus sends Vashti Away
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$900

Drawings for the Bible
Esther
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$900

Drawings for the Bible
Job Praying
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

Drawings for the Bible
Job in Despair
Verve 1960
Marc Chagall Lithograph
14-3/8 x 10-1/4 in.
$800

The Bible
Abraham and Sara
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 122
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$600

The Bible
Angel of Paradise
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 121
Vreve 1956
14" x 10"
$500

The Bible
David and Absalom
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 133
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$1,100

The Bible
David and Bathsheba
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 132
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$1,500

The Bible
David and his Harp
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 134
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$1,400

The Bible
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 142
Verve 1956
13" x 10"
$600

The Bible
Isaiah
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 141
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$600

The Bible
Jeremiah
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 139
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$700

The Bible
Jeremiah Lamentations
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 140
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$700

The Bible
Moses III
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 126
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$850

The Bible
Moses II
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 125
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$850

The Bible
Moses Recieving the Tablets of the Law
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 123
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$700

The Bible
Moses I
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 124
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$850

The Bible
Solomon
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 131
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$800

The Bible
The Bible
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 120
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$400

The Bible
Angel
Original Color Lithograph
Mourlot 120
Verve 1956
14" x 10"
$700