Chagall exhibit opens in Rome landmark

An exhibition of paintings by Marc Chagall (1887-1985) entitled "The World Upside-Down" opened to the public on Wednesday next to an ancient Roman altar in the centre of the Italian capital.

The exhibition inside the Ara Pacis complex brings together around 140 paintings from Nice and Paris, as well as private collections.

The display has been organised by the Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice.

Chagall, who was born in Vitebsk in what was then the Russian Empire and is now Belarus, has become famous for his gravity-defying paintings that feature flying farm animals, Jewish folk musicians and wedding scenes.

Chagall took French nationality in 1937 and became one of the most famous painters of the 20th century in France, along with Pablo Picasso.

The exhibition in Rome runs until March 27.