Chagall. Witness of His Time: The Magic of Memory and Colour at Palazzo dei Diamanti

In Ferrara, dreams meet light. Inside the Renaissance halls of Palazzo dei Diamanti, the exhibition “Chagall. Witness of His Time” invites visitors to step into the poetic universe of one of the most beloved artists of the twentieth century. Over two hundred works,including paintings, drawings, etchings and stained glass, trace a journey through memory, spirituality and hope, revealing the timeless power of Chagall’s art.

Curated by Paul Schneiter and Francesca Villanti and promoted by Fondazione Ferrara Arte, the exhibition offers a path that weaves together biography and vision. It begins in Vitebsk, the artist’s hometown, where the atmosphere seems suspended between reality and dream: wooden houses, rabbis, musicians and animals from Jewish tradition come alive again in the vivid colours of his canvases. Then, like a story changing rhythm, Chagall moves to Paris, where his imagination finds full freedom. Here his art intertwines with the European avant-garde, yet always remains personal, lyrical and profoundly human. The engravings created for La Fontaine’s Fables reveal his unique ability to make universal the most intimate emotions.

At the heart of the exhibition lies the deep connection between art and spirituality. During the years of exile and war, Chagall reread the Bible, transforming the suffering of his time into a universal message of resilience. The Hadassah Windows, accompanied by immersive sound, guide visitors through a dialogue between faith, memory and light, where colour itself becomes a language of redemption.

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Among the most evocative sections is the one dedicated to Paris and the Opéra, which welcomes visitors into a theatrical experience. Music, dance and painting blend together in a choreography of emotions that reflects Chagall’s vision, a world seen through the lens of imagination, vibrant and in perpetual motion. In his most iconic paintings, lovers, acrobats and fantastical animals float through the air with a dreamlike grace, capturing both the joy of love and the fragile beauty of life.

In his later years, after moving to the south of France, Chagall rediscovered serenity. The Mediterranean light illuminates his flowers, landscapes and gardens, symbols of rebirth and inner peace. In a simple vase that travels from one place to another, the artist finds his own reflection: wandering roots that continue to bloom, against all odds. The exhibition closes with Peace (1949), a painting that encapsulates Chagall’s deepest message,that art can overcome pain, bridge differences, and restore harmony to the world.

Visiting Chagall. Witness of His Time means stepping into that delicate space between dream and reality where the artist found refuge. Book a guided tour and experience the great art of 900th Century in one of Ferrara’s most magnificent Renaissance landmarks.