A gift from artist to the present owner

The canvas is not lined. There appear to be no signs of retouching under UV light. This work is in good original condition. Colours: Fairly accurate. The reds are pinker and the oranges are slighty brighter in the original than in the printed catalogue. The green tones are overall more prominent.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Chagall's fascination with dreaming and his obsession with the world of his subconscious allowed him to paint the jovial, buoyant scenes for which he has become so renowned. Comprised of visions taken from his mind and his memory, Chagall's paintings combine winged beasts and flying figures in magical compositions that exude charm and beauty. Painted in 1980, when Chagall was living with his third wife Valentina Brodsky in the south of France, Maternité orange is a wonderfully animated example of Chagall's unique mastery of colour and composition. The happiness he felt in these post-war years combined with the vibrancy of the Mediterranean light can be seen reflected in the luminosity of his palette which ap♓pears to shimmer under the heat of the region's sun.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who were now seeking inspiration en plein air, Chagall continued to seek inspiration from an abundance of personal imagery collected during his early life in Vitebsk and later years in Paris. In Maternité orange one identif💃ies a number of his most iconic themes: the rooftops of his native Vitebsk, the rooster and the donkey, and a bouquet of flowers. Each is characterised by the use of bold colour areas and heavy outline which animate the canvas surface with a dreamlike sequence that represents Chagall's synthesis of a reality experienced with one imagined.

Fig. 1, Marc Chagall in his studio in Vence (photograph by Zoltán Glass)