Monday, February 9, 2026

Chagall in Ferrara

Annamaria on Monday


Exactly a week ago from the time this blog launches, I was on my way to meet up with some friends for a few days in the city of Ferrara, a place I have not been to for a few decades.  I have a lot to report on what turned out to be a wonderful experience, but for today I will begin by sharing the first stop on our tour, a massive exhibition of the work of Marc Chagall.

I am beginning with a poem about the artist, because it is very dear to my heart.  You see, shortly after I first met my dear departed husband David, the first time he and I were together when someone mentioned Chagall. The two of us, simultaneously, began to recite Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poem. Here it is in all its delightful glory, thanks to The Poetry Foundation: 

 Don’t Let That Horse . . .

Don’t let that horse
                              eat that violin

    cried Chagall’s mother

                                     But he   
                      kept right on
                                     painting

And became famous

And kept on painting
                              The Horse With Violin In Mouth

And when he finally finished it
he jumped up upon the horse
                                        and rode away   
          waving the violin




And then with a low bow gave it
to the first naked nude he ran across


And there were no strings   
                                     attached


The exhibition was massive.  Impossible to cover thoroughly.  I chose to show you the following, which I selected in my own usual, wacky way. Included are Pictures that have a horse and a violin, or maybe one or the other. Images that I particularly liked. And one only because it has an angel. I hope you like them.

I am beginning with a portrait of the young artist, mostly because he was quite beautiful.


The rest are presented in the only way allowed by Blogger:random.

I always choose a picture I would take home.
This was th one for me.  







   

The Angel

The Horse and the Violin, etc.




Apologies for the crooked pix.  They were taken by a short person in crowded galleries.

8 comments:

  1. Wow and thank you for these photos!

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    1. Thank you, Olivia. I’m so pleased you liked them. AA

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    2. From AA. I am so glad that I was able to lift your spirits, dear one. I miss you. Let’s chat. Shall we?

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    3. From AA. I am so glad that I was able to lift your spirits, dear one. I miss you. Let’s chat. Shall we?

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    4. The above for Wendall.

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  2. AA it's Wendall. I needed this post so much, today. Thank you so much for these images. I always love the way you look at the world.

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  3. I love the poem! And the whimsical colorful paintings - which as Frost would say, '...saved some part/ of a day I had rued.'

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    1. Thank you. I love the poem too, Sarah. The exhibition was overwhelming. Huge numbers of paintings. Frankly, even though I was choosing what to look at closely, I had to stop looking about halfway through. It began to feel, to me anyway, it’s too much. Given that response, it made the poem more and more comforting. AA

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