MARC CHAGALL (1887–1985)
SOIRÉE — CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES, 30 MAY 1963
Original Colour Lithograph – Mourlot 383 – Cramer 54 – Official Presidential and Royal Gala Programme – Complete with Original Historical Supplement – Copy No. 434/500
Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
Title: Soirée – Couverture de programme
Occasion: Official State Gala in Honour of the King and Queen of Sweden
Host: General Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic
Royal Guests: King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise of Sweden
Venue: Théâtre Louis XV, Château de Versailles, France
Date: Thursday, 30 May 1963
Publication: Imprimerie Nationale, Paris, 1963
Original Artwork: Colour lithograph by Marc Chagall
Lithographic Printer: Mourlot Frères, Paris
Typography: Imprimerie Nationale, using the historic Romain du Roi typeface
Paper: Vélin d'Arches
Format: Large folio, approximately 37.5 × 28 cm
Edition: 529 copies in total
Present Copy: No. 434/500
Binding: Original folded wrappers and loose sheets secured with a blue-and-yellow silk cord
Additional Material: Original illustrated historical supplement devoted to the Royal Opera of Versailles, containing colour heliogravure plates by Draeger Frères
Catalogue Raisonné: Mourlot 383; Cramer 54
Language: French
Description
An exceptionally rare and historically significant original programme produced for the official gala evening hosted by General Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, in honour of Their Majesties King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise of Sweden, at the Château de Versailles on Thursday, 30 May 1963.
Published by the prestigious Imprimerie Nationale in Paris, this remarkable large-format programme is distinguished by its original colour lithograph specially created by Marc Chagall and printed on the presses of Mourlot Frères.
The lithograph, catalogued as Mourlot 383 and Cramer 54, forms the illustrated cover of the programme and depicts a characteristically poetic Chagall composition combining a female figure holding a bouquet of flowers, a male figure and a bird-like creature against a richly worked dark background.
The composition combines soft, expressive contours with delicate applications of green, red and black, reflecting Chagall's distinctive pictorial language and his enduring fascination with love, fantasy, nature and the human imagination.
The lithograph bears Chagall's name within the composition and was produced specifically for this prestigious diplomatic occasion.
Unlike conventional commemorative publications, the programme incorporates an authentic original lithographic work by one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century.
The present copy is particularly attractive for retaining not only the original Chagall lithographic cover and numbered programme, but also the accompanying historical booklet devoted to the Théâtre Louis XV, illustrated with fine colour heliogravure plates.
An Exceptional Historical Occasion
The programme commemorates an important diplomatic event in Franco-Swedish relations during the presidency of Charles de Gaulle.
On 30 May 1963, President de Gaulle hosted a formal evening at the historic Royal Opera of Versailles, known as the Théâtre Louis XV, in honour of the visiting Swedish monarchs.
The occasion brought together the ceremonial traditions of the French Republic with the artistic splendour of Versailles, one of Europe's most historically significant royal residences.
The selection of Marc Chagall to create the illustrated cover was particularly appropriate, as the artist was among the most internationally renowned painters and lithographers working in France at the time.
His artistic involvement transformed an official presidential programme into an exceptional example of twentieth-century graphic art associated with a documented historical event.
The publication thus represents an unusual intersection of modern art, European royalty, French presidential history and cultural diplomacy.
The Original Colour Lithograph by Marc Chagall
The illustrated cover is an original colour lithograph by Marc Chagall, specially commissioned for the gala programme and printed by Mourlot Frères in Paris.
The composition presents a poetic scene of figures, flowers and a bird, combining the artist's characteristic dreamlike imagery with expressive, spontaneous drawing.
A female figure occupies the foreground, holding a bouquet of brightly coloured flowers. Behind her, a male figure and a large bird-like form emerge from the dark background, creating a theatrical and imaginative composition.
The contrast between the predominantly dark lithographic surface and the vivid red and green accents gives the work a particularly striking visual presence.
The lithograph is not an ordinary reproduction of an existing painting. It was executed as an original graphic composition for the occasion and is independently documented in the established Chagall catalogues raisonnés.
Bibliographical identification:
- Fernand Mourlot, Marc Chagall: The Lithographs, no. 383.
- Patrick Cramer, Marc Chagall: The Illustrated Books, no. 54.
Its inclusion in these catalogues confirms its recognized status within Chagall's original graphic production.
Edition and Limitation
The programme was produced in a strictly limited edition of 529 copies, printed by the Imprimerie Nationale on fine Vélin d'Arches paper.
The edition was divided as follows:
4 Named Presentation Copies
Special copies reserved for individually designated recipients.
500 Numbered Copies — Nos. 1–500
Printed on Vélin d'Arches and individually numbered.
25 Special Copies — Nos. I–XXV
Printed on Vélin d'Arches and numbered in Roman numerals.
The present example is No. 434, belonging to the edition of 500 numbered copies.
The original justification page confirms the edition structure, the printing methods and the inclusion of the original Chagall lithograph.
Exceptional Printing and Typography
The programme was produced with particular attention to the historical and ceremonial significance of the occasion.
The text was composed using the celebrated Romain du Roi typeface, originally developed under the patronage of King Louis XIV and engraved by Philippe Grandjean.
This historic royal typeface was an especially appropriate choice for a state ceremony at Versailles, establishing a direct connection between the traditions of the French monarchy and the official cultural presentation of the French Republic.
The typography was executed by the Imprimerie Nationale, one of France's most distinguished printing establishments.
The programme was printed on fine Vélin d'Arches paper, a traditional French paper highly regarded for its quality and frequently employed in important artistic and bibliophile publications.
The loose sheets are gathered beneath the original folded lithographic cover and secured with a decorative silk cord in blue and yellow, representing the national colours of Sweden.
This distinctive binding detail reinforces the publication's diplomatic and ceremonial identity.
The Royal Gala Programme
The programme documents the artistic performances arranged for the visiting Swedish monarchs at the Théâtre Louis XV.
The evening included important works from the classical ballet repertoire, notably Pas de Quatre, with music by Cesare Pugni and choreography associated with Anton Dolin's reconstruction of the celebrated nineteenth-century ballet.
The programme also featured Pour Piccolo et Mandolines, set to music by Antonio Vivaldi, with choreography by Michel Descombey and costumes by Claude Catulle.
Among the performers listed in the original programme are Claude Bessy, Madeleine Lafon, Claire Motte, Ninon Lebertre and other distinguished dancers.
The musical direction was entrusted to Richard Blareau.
These details provide a valuable documentary record of the cultural programme organized for a major official visit during the French Fifth Republic.
The Original Historical Supplement — Théâtre Louis XV, Versailles
Of particular importance, the present example retains the original separately produced historical supplement devoted to the Théâtre Louis XV at the Château de Versailles.
This smaller-format booklet was issued as an accompanying insert to the official presidential gala programme and provides a detailed historical and architectural account of the Royal Opera of Versailles.
The supplement was composed using historic eighteenth-century typographic characters and illustrated with fine colour heliogravure plates executed by Draeger Frères, one of France's most prestigious specialist printing establishments.
The illustrations depict the magnificent interior of the Royal Opera, including its gilded balconies, monumental architectural columns, decorative ceiling panels, elaborate galleries, sculptural ornamentation and crystal chandeliers.
The high-quality colour printing captures the extraordinary richness of the theatre's architectural decoration and its characteristic combination of marble, gilding and painted surfaces.
The supplementary text discusses the historical significance of the theatre and the extensive restoration undertaken under the direction of André Japy.
The restoration sought to return the theatre to its original eighteenth-century appearance, reconstructing its architectural and decorative features with exceptional historical accuracy.
The booklet emphasizes the importance of this restoration not only as an architectural achievement but also as a major contribution to the preservation of French cultural heritage.
Particularly interesting is the historical reference to distinguished international guests previously received at the restored theatre, including Queen Elizabeth II, King Baudouin I of Belgium and President John F. Kennedy.
The text places the Swedish royal visit of 1963 within this distinguished tradition of international state receptions held at Versailles.
The final passage also recalls the historical connection between the Swedish monarchy and the French royal court, referring to King Gustav III of Sweden and his visits to France during the eighteenth century.
The survival of this separate illustrated booklet is especially desirable, as it preserves the historical and ceremonial context in which Chagall's original lithograph was commissioned.
Together, the original programme and its historical supplement form a sophisticated bibliophile publication combining modern graphic art, royal history, architectural documentation and exceptional French printing craftsmanship.
The Present Copy — No. 434/500
The present example is number 434 of the 500 individually numbered copies, as confirmed by the original printed justification page.
It retains the original folded cover featuring Chagall's colour lithograph, printed by Mourlot Frères, together with the characteristic blue-and-yellow silk cord associated with the Swedish royal occasion.
The interior pages preserve the elegant typographic presentation associated with the Imprimerie Nationale, including the ceremonial title page, the programme of performances and the original edition statement.
The copy also retains its original separately printed historical supplement, containing text devoted to the Royal Opera of Versailles and colour heliogravure illustrations by Draeger Frères.
The surviving supplementary material includes detailed photographic views of the theatre's architecture and interior decoration, as well as historical text describing its restoration and its association with major international state visits.
The lithographic cover displays Chagall's characteristic imagery, with the coloured passages clearly visible against the dark background.
The photographs show some age-related wear along the edges and folds of the original cover, together with minor fraying to the decorative silk tassels. The interior pages and illustrated supplement appear generally well preserved.
The preservation of the original numbered programme, Chagall lithographic cover, decorative silk cord and accompanying historical supplement makes this a particularly attractive example.
Historical and Collecting Importance
This publication is significant on several distinct levels.
Firstly, it contains an original colour lithograph by Marc Chagall, created for a specific historical occasion and recorded in the principal catalogues raisonnés of the artist's graphic work.
Secondly, its strictly limited edition of only 529 copies distinguishes it from many of Chagall's more widely circulated illustrated publications.
Thirdly, its historical context is particularly compelling: the programme was created for an official presidential gala hosted by Charles de Gaulle at Versailles in honour of the Swedish royal couple.
Fourthly, its exceptional printing quality, historic royal typography, fine Vélin d'Arches paper and original blue-and-yellow silk cord reflect the ceremonial importance of the occasion.
Finally, the inclusion of the original historical supplement, illustrated with colour heliogravures by Draeger Frères, adds a further dimension of completeness and documentary importance.
The resulting publication represents an unusual combination of original modern graphic art, European diplomatic history, royal ceremonial traditions and fine French book production.
Bibliographical References
Mourlot: Marc Chagall: The Lithographs, no. 383.
Cramer: Marc Chagall: The Illustrated Books, no. 54.
Publication: Soirée offerte au Théâtre Louis XV par le Général de Gaulle, Président de la République française, en l'honneur de Leurs Majestés le Roi et la Reine de Suède, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1963.
Conclusion
An important and exceptionally limited original publication, distinguished by its historical context as an official French presidential and royal gala programme and by its original colour lithograph specially created by Marc Chagall.
The combination of Chagall's original artwork, the presidential and royal associations, the prestigious setting of the Château de Versailles, the historic typography of the Imprimerie Nationale and the illustrated architectural supplement makes this work particularly appealing to collectors of original prints, fine illustrated books and twentieth-century European history.
The present example, numbered 434/500, is especially attractive for retaining the original lithographic cover, the blue-and-yellow silk cord and the separately printed historical supplement with its fine colour heliogravure plates.
MARC CHAGALL — Soirée, Château de Versailles, 30 May 1963. Original colour lithograph printed by Mourlot Frères, Paris, on the cover of the official gala programme hosted by President Charles de Gaulle in honour of King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise of Sweden. First edition, limited to 529 copies on Vélin d'Arches. Copy No. 434/500. Retaining the original silk cord in the Swedish national colours and the accompanying historical supplement devoted to the Théâtre Louis XV, illustrated with colour heliogravures by Draeger Frères. Mourlot 383; Cramer 54.
