Details of “La Baie des Anges” by Marc Chagall
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Kings Gallery in Jerusalem proudly presents an extraordinary, hand-signed color lithograph by Marc Chagall. Created in 1962, La Baie des Anges (The Bay of Angels) stands among Chagall’s most iconic visual letters to Nice and the French Riviera. Printed at the world-renowned Atelier Mourlot in Paris, this piece measures 76.2 x 55.9 cm and 102.9 x 80.1 cm framed.
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) reshaped the trajectory of 20th-century modernism by inclusion dreamlike Jewish folklore. Born in Vitebsk, Chagall absorbed the traditions of Yiddish culture before immersing himself in the Parisian avant-garde.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Chagall established a home in the South of France, where the brilliant light of the Mediterranean transformed his palette. During this prolific late period, he collaborated closely with master printer Charles Sorlier at Atelier Mourlot in Paris, pushing the boundaries of color lithography. Chagall treated the lithographic stone like a canvas, layering glowing inks to achieve painterly depth and radiance.
«La Baie des Anges»
In La Baie des Anges (cataloged as Sorlier 9 and Mourlot 350), Chagall transforms the coastline of Nice into a realm of transcendent myth. The composition centers on a majestic, ethereal mermaid hovering above the azure waters of the Mediterranean, cradling a lush, overflowing bouquet of vibrant crimson, yellow, and white blossoms. Below her, palm fronds silhouette against the calm bay, while a solitary fish glides through the translucent sea under a glowing full moon.
Blue here probably is not only a description of sky or water, but also an emotional vehicle for infinity, spirit, and memory. The floating mermaid acts as a mythological muse, uniting earth, sea, and sky.
The lower right corner reveals Chagall’s crisp, original signature and date, “1962”.
The famous Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) stretching along Nice carries a rich layer of Mediterranean folklore that directly informs the artwork’s symbolism. Local tradition attributes the bay’s evocative name to three distinct origins.
Early Christian tradition holds that after Romans martyred Saint Reparata, angels guided a boat carrying her remains across the Mediterranean, safely depositing her body on the shores of Nice.
A poetic local myth claims that following the expulsion from Paradise, compassionate angels escorted Adam and Eve across the sea, landing them at Nice because its breathtaking beauty closely mirrored the Garden of Eden.
On a historical level, 18th-century local fishermen named the waters after the angel shark (Squatina squatina), a flat, wing-like sea creature that once populated the bay, whose physical shape recalled heavenly wings.
By weaving the floating mermaid and luminous sea into his composition, Chagall synthesizes these historical and mythical threads into a single visual poem.
Our Gallery
We invite you to visit Kings Gallery in Jerusalem to view this hand-signed masterpiece in person. Experience the brilliant blue hues.
Contact Kings Gallery in Jerusalem today to inquire about pricing or to secure this iconic Marc Chagall lithograph for your collection.