GUEST lecturer Theodora Clarke, from the University of Bristol faculty of arts, will give an hour-long talk on Marc Chagall: Art and Religion on Wednesday at Bar Lane Studios, York, to tie in an exhibition at the studio.

This lecture will explore the pioneering 20th century Jewish artist’s universal appeal, his unparalleled use of colour and the Yiddish and biblical influences on his imagery, as well as reflecting on the challenges Chagall faced as an artist in pre-Revolutionary Russia, such as the anti-Semitic regulations that prohibited Jews from attending art schools.

Theodora also will look at how Chagall’s modernist style evolved during the different periods of an artistic career spent in Russia and then France. After the Russian Revolution, he became head of the Vitebsk art school and subsequently he lived in France for many years.

“I will then chart the development of Chagall’s art following his emigration to the West,” says Theodora.

“I will follow his journey as he experiments with different artistic mediums, including his famous stained-glass windows.

“I will examine recurrent visual themes such as his Jewish heritage and will investigate key works and look at the artist’s innovative use of colour. Picasso once said: ‘When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour really is’.”

Entry is £4 and anyone interested is asked to email enquiries@barlanestudios.com so the studio knows how many people will be attending.

At present, original lithographs from Chagall’s Biblical Set are on display in the studios’ gallery.