Chagall a Roma: The White Crucifixion

27 November 2024 – 27 January 2025

Offers an intense experience of contemplation. This extraordinary work by Marc Chagall, one of the most emblematic paintings of the 20th century, remembers, denounces, and moves, weaving together suffering and hope.

Curated by the Dicastery for Evangelisation – Section for Fundamental Questions of Evangelisation in the World, as part of the art events accompanying the Jubilee 2025, and organised in collaboration with Fondazione Roma, the exhibition—free of charge—brings the public into direct contact with the symbolic power of La crocifissione bianca, a work on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rendered in Chagall’s unmistakable poetic and evocative language, rich in references to history and symbols of Jewish culture, the work places the crucified Christ at its centre, emphasising how he embodies the persecutions of his people and of all those who suffer in the world. Chagall painted it shortly after the violent events of Kristallnacht (9–10 November 1938), a particularly emblematic episode of anti-Jewish violence under the Nazi regime and across various parts of Europe. Yet the universal value of the image goes beyond a specific historical moment or the fate of a single people: it stands as a perpetual cry against the madness of extremism in every era and a symbol of hope in divine salvation.

The interpretative pathway allows visitors to experience a profound encounter with a complex and fascinating work—an artistic journey through pain, consciousness, and faith, within the timeless rooms of Palazzo Cipolla.