Chagall – Witness of His Time: the exhibition in Ferrara

Considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Marc Chagall will be celebrated from October 11, 2025, to February 8, 2026, with a major exhibition at Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. The exhibition invites visitors to explore the humanity of the artist and his deep bond with his native land, through an engaging and emotional journey.

Marc Chagall – One of the Most Beloved Masters of Modern Art

Born in Vitebsk on July 7, 1887, as Moishe Segal (later francized to Marc Chagall), the artist developed a passion for painting from a young age. He began his studies at the Academy of St. Petersburg, though his stay was brief due to anti-Jewish restrictions. After meeting his future wife, Bella Rosenfeld, he moved to Paris, where he encountered Fauvism and Cubism.

During this period, he created iconic works such as I and the Village (1911) and entered the Parisian art scene, meeting Guillaume Apollinaire and Robert Delaunay, and exhibiting at the Salon des Indépendants and the Der Sturm Gallery.

Later, Chagall returned to Vitebsk due to the outbreak of war, producing works like The Jew in Pink (1915) and Birthday (1915). He founded the Vitebsk Art Institute, then moved to Moscow, where he participated in the Russian Revolution of 1917. By 1923, he abandoned political life and moved to Berlin, where he published his memoirs in Yiddish and reconnected with the European art world, organizing a retrospective at the Galerie Barbazanges-Hodeberg in 1924.

With the rise of World War II and the confiscation of his works, Chagall took refuge in America, later settling in Vence after the death of his beloved Bella — a recurring muse in his art. His international fame continued to grow, and following his remarriage in 1952, he embarked on a series of grand decorative projects, including the ceiling of the Paris Opera and a mosaic in Chicago. He passed away in Vence in 1985, leaving behind one of the most lyrical and spiritual legacies in modern art.

The Ferrara Exhibition – “Chagall: Witness of His Time”

Curated by Paul Schneiter and Francesca Villanti, and promoted by Fondazione Ferrara Arte and Arthemisia, the exhibition “Chagall – Witness of His Time” will feature more than 200 works, including paintings, drawings, and etchings, alongside two immersive rooms. These installations will allow visitors to retrace the artist’s evolution through recurring themes such as exile, memory, and spirituality, firmly situating his art within the context of his life and times.

Universally recognized for his vivid colors and floating figures, Chagall’s works express the duality of human existence — joy and suffering, faith and doubt — positioning him as one of the most visionary artists of the 20th century.

Tickets and Practical Information

Opening hours: 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices:

• Open ticket – €19.00
• Full price – €16.00 (plus presale fee)
• Reduced – €14.00 (plus presale fee)

For more details on reductions and ticket purchases, visit the official website.

How to get there:

• By car: A13 Bologna–Padua highway, exits Ferrara Nord or Ferrara Sud.
• By train: Lines Venice–Florence–Rome / Milan–Bologna / Bologna–Ferrara.
• By bus: Line 3 from the FS Station to Palazzo dei Diamanti.

Don’t miss one of the most anticipated exhibitions of 2025–2026 — a chance to discover the poetic world of Marc Chagall, witness and dreamer of his time.

Cover photo credits: Palazzo dei Diamanti, Ferrara.