The radzivills

                                

5. Read out these phrases several times till you remember their meaning:

to make friends with smb — подружиться с кем-л.;

to get acquainted with smb — (познакомиться  с кем-л.;

mode of life — уклад жгойи,  быт;

to bring fame to smb.—приносить  известность кому-л.;

to crave for smth — жаждать чего-л.;               

by means of—при помощи;

to be part and parcel of smth — быть неотъемлемой частью чего-л.; to waste paper— марать бумагу.

 

6. Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:

1. jeweller 2. celebrity 3. appoint 4. gain 5. dweller  6. connoisseur  7. mode of life 8. grant    9. penetrate   10. scholarship

а. назначать b. приобретать с. знаток d. стипендия f. быт, уклад жизни g. торговец драгоценностями h. постигать i. знаменитость j. назначать, выделять  k. назначать, выделять

 

7. Combine the words with the help of the preposition of:

 

1. family 2. love 3. on the banks 4. the life 5. one  6. in each 7. the addresses 8. the heart   9. grimaces  10. part and parcel

a. native land b. a merchant с. horror d. academies e. his pictures f. the French painting g. the Dvina river h. poor people i. the best students g. the best students

 

8. Give the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives:

Poor, good, young, rich, different, famous, wonderful, mad, tiny, capricious.

 

9. Give the three forms of the following verbs:

To make, to speak, to fall, to leave, to go, to say, to meet, to give, to teach.

 

10. Give the plural of:                                                                          

Merchant, country, representative, address, city, sky, cafe, shop-window, fantasy, horror, celebrity, success.

 

11. Write the derivatives of the following words:

Painting, dream, inspire^ study, magic, different, representative, meeting, wonderful, penetrate, exhibition.

 

12. These words can be used both as verbs and nouns. Make up your own sentences to show the difference in their usage:

Address, visit, work, dream, waste, study.

 

13. Read these expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

Именно там; многообещающий молодой художник; их образ жизни; возглавляемую; его любовь вдохновляла  его; он был замечен; вместе с другими  молодыми художниками; его сумасшедшие  картины; детская манера; знатоки  искусства; он подружился; не марать бумагу дома; не важно, где и когда его кисть касалась полотна; названный в честь.

 

14. Read the text and get ready to speak about Mark Chagall:

 

OUR GREAT COUNTRYMAN: MARK CHAGALL

Moisey (Mark) Chagall was born into a family of a poor merchant in Vitebsk in 1887. At the age of 20 he entered the art school of Ieguda Pen. It was there where Chagall gained experience and worked out his unique manner of painting. And besides the promising young artist inherited some features of Pen's manner of painting. Chagall's main theme was: poor people and their mode of life. It should be mentioned that Pen's art school was the best at that time and young artists had been dreaming to study there.

After finishing art school Mark ChagalLand his friend Victor Mekler went to study to Petersburg. Chagall studied at the school headed by N. Roerikh. He was one of the best students.

In 1909 he met Bella (Berta) Rosenfeld, a daughter of a rich jeweller from Vitebsk, and fell in love with her. His love inspired him to create splendid pictures and it started to bring fame to him. He worked much at that time and was noticed by Maxim Vinaver, who granted Chagall the scholar of 125 francs a month to continue his studies abroad. Mark went to Paris. A. Akhmatova wrote, "He took his magic Vitebsk to Paris".

In Paris Chagall lived and worked alongside with other young artists who had come from different countries to master painting. And we must admit later a lot of them became famous representatives of the French drawing school. He also got acquainted with P.Picasso, F.Lezhe and others. In one of his letters Chagall wrote, "In Paris I neither looked for the addresses of Academies nor craved for meetings with professors. Generally speaking the city itself taught me: its streets, merchants under the open sky, boys in the cafes, peasants and workers. There was a wonderful free light above them all. It helped me to penetrate into the heart of the French painting." He visited different exhibition», museums and spent a lot of time by shop-windows with pictures. A. Lunacharsky wrote about him, “He is known in Paris. His mad pictures are painted in a bit childish manner, They are full of rich and capricious fantasy, grimaces of horror and humour, but they have nttiHciciJ tlip attention of the connoisseurs of art."

In 1914 Chagall came back to Russia, He started to work at the so-called "Vitebsk's series" which consisted of 60 pictures on cardboard and paper. The writer Yuri Nagibin underlined, "It's difficult to understand Chagall if we withdraw Vitebsk from his life. Neither Petersburg, where he studied, nor Moscow, where he worked, nor France, where he had lived the largest part of his life, gave him even the tiniest part of the impressions that Vitebsk had presented to him".

In 1915 Chagall married Bella Rosenfeld. He realized that his wife's relatives were against their marriage. That's why they went to Petrograd. There he made friends with A. Block, V. Mayakovsky, S. Esenin, B. Pasternak, B. Bonch-Brue-vich and other celebrities. He organized his first personal exhibition which was a great success. In 1916 his daughter Ida was born and in 1918 he was appointed the Commissioner onthe problems of art in Vitebsk region. He had a right to open art schools, museums and to organize exhibitions, lectures and reports on art. Together with his four pupils Chagall took part in the decoration of Vitebsk for the first anniversary of the Great October Revolution. He founded the National Art School in Vitebsk. He wrote, "I want the children of poor town dwellers to study art and not to waste paper at home". In 1919 the first State Exhibition of local and Moscow artists was organized in Vitebsk. 41 painters took part in it and Chagall was among them.

In 1920 Chagall left Vitebsk for Moscow and then he went to Paris. He explained, "I left my Motherland because I had come to the conclusion that I needed Paris. The soil nourishing the roots of my art is Vitebsk. But Paris is necessary for my life as water for a tree".

He died inl 985 in Sen-Pol-de-Vense.

In each of his pictures, Mark Chagall returned in dreams to his native place on the banks of the Dvina river. No matter where in the world Ms brush was touching the canvas, the painter's love to the Vitebsk of his childhood and youth was part and parcel of his life. Perhaps this very unique "Vitebsk's breeding" allowed Chagall to keep the perception of childhood in this creative work forever. In a single moment, he woke up too early from his childhood dreams, and, later on, he tried to revive mat moment in his canvases again and again. He demonstrated his love of his native land by means of his mastery. A Latvian journalist compares this sort of mastering with Nabokov's idea, "The difference between comic and cosmic lies in a simple letter". Chagall managed to keep his world within the reaches of this single letter.

The museum, named after Chagall, was opened in Vitebsk only in 1991. We must admit that until that time, few people took the risk of publishing books or " organizing exhibitions of Chagall's works in the former Soviet Union.

 

15. Answer the questions:

1. When and where was Mark Chagall bom? 2. When did he enter Pen's art school? 3. Was that school popular among young artists? 4. Where did Chagall continue his studies after finishing the art school? 5. Who was his teacher in Petersburg? 6. When did he meet Bella Rosenfeld? 7. What started to bring fame to Chagall? 8. Who granted him the scholarship? 9. Where did Mark Chagall go to study? 10. Who did he get acquainted with in Paris? 11. What did Chagall do in Paris? 12. What helped Chagall to understand the French painting? 13. What were his pictures like at that period? 14. When did he return to Vitebsk? 15 What did he do there? 16. When did he marry Bella? 17. Why did they go to Petersburg? 18. Who did he make friends with in Petersburg? 19. What was he appointed? 20.What did Mark Chagall do in Vitebsk at that time? 21. Where did he go after Vitebsk? 22. Why did he decide to go to Paris? 23. When and where did he die?

 

16. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. Moisey Chagall was born in a rich family in Paris. 2. He taught Pan at the art school. 3. Mark Chagall went to Petersburg on the invitation of N. Roerikh.     4. Maxim Vinaver was Mark's relative that's why he sent him to study to America.

5.  In Paris Chagall was introduced to the best teachers of drawing. 6. When in 1914 Chagall returned to Belarus he was met by Bella. 7. Mark married Bella and went to Petrbgrad with her. 8. They lived together with his friends S. Ese-nin and V. Mayaykovsky. 9. For his revolutionary ideas Chagall was sent into exile to Vitebsk. 10. In Vitebsk he worked at the art school, 11. He died in Paris. 12. A majestic monument to Mark Chagall was opened in Paris.

 

17. Put in the right prepositions where necessary:

1. ... finishing the art school Mark Chagall and his friend Victor Mekler went to study... Petersburg. 2. ... 1909 he met Bella (Berta) Rosenfeld, a daughter... a rich ... jeweller... Vitebsk and fell... love ... her. 3. Maxim Vinaver granted him ... the scholar ... 125 francs . . . month . . . continue his studies abroad. 4. ... Paris Chagall lived and worked alongside ... other young artists who had come... different countries to study painting. 5. ... 1914 Chagall came back... Russia. 6. He started to work... the so-called "Vitebsk's series" which consisted ... 60 pictures ... cardboard and paper. 1. ... marriage they went... Petrograd. 8.    .    .1920 Chagall left Vitebsk . . . Moscow and then he went . . . Paris. 9. In each ... his pictures, Mark Chagall returned ... dreams ... his native place ... the banks ... the Dvina river. 10. No matter where ... the world his brush was touching ... the canvas, the painter's love ... the Vitebsk ... his childhood and youth was part and parcel ... his life. 11. He demonstrated ... his.love ... his native country ... means ... his mastery. 12. The museum named . . . Mark Chagall was opened... Vitebsk only... 1991.

 

18. Choose a word from the box to put into each gap:

1. It is well known that Mark Chagall was born into a family of a poor ... in Vitebsk. 2. Mark Chagall's love... him to create ... pictures and it started to bring ... to him. 3. Maxim Vinaver granted Chagall... to continue his studies abroad; 4. In Paris there were a lot of talented artists who had come from different countries ... painting. 5. Paris itself helped Chagall... into the heart of the French ... . 6. Chagall's pictures are full of rich and......, grimaces of horror and fantasy.

7. Chagall pictures attract the attention of the ... of art. 8. In each of his pictures, Mark Chagall returned in ... to his ... on the banks of the Dvina river.

 

to master, connoisseurs, inspired, capricious fantasy, to penetrate, dreams, fame, merchant, the scholarship, splendid, native place, painting

 

19. Complete the sentences using the text:

It should be mentioned that...........................

We-must admit................................

Generally speaking................................

 

20. Fill in the table with the main events from Chagall's life:

1887
1907
1909
1914
1915
1916
1918
1919
1920
1985
1991

 

21. Work in groups. Find out from your partners:

— what they know about Chagall's origin;

— why it's difficult to understand Chagall if we don't take into account the Vitebsk period of his life;

— why me connoisseurs of art consider Chagall's paintings unique;

— whether they have ever seen Chagall's pictures;    

— what helped Mark Chagall to understand the French painting;

— what duties Chagall fulfilled in 1918;

— whether Mark Chagall was a bachelor;                              

why it was dangerous to organize Chagall's exhibitions before1991.

 

22. Comment on:

—  Mark Chagall's words: "It helped me to penetrate into the heart of the French painting";

— A. Akhmatova's words: "He took his magic Vitebsk to Paris";

— Chagall's activity as the Commissioner on the problems of art in Vitebsk.

 

23. Prove that:

— Mark Chagall loved his Motherland very much;

— Mark Chagall loved children;

— Belarusian people respect .Mark Chagall greatly.

 

24. Imagine that: 

— You are going to interview the organizer of Mark Chagall's exhibition. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

— Your friend is a TV friend. You want him to accompany you to Chagall's museum. Try to persuade him/her to go with you. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

— Your class is going to visit Mark Chagall’s museum in Vitebsk. You know nothing about him, but luckily your friend is a connoisseur of painting. Ask him to inform you about Mark Chagall and his style of painting. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

 

25. Comprehension check. Choose the best alternative according to the text:

1. Moisey Chagall was horn in Vitebsk and

a) his father was a trader;

b) his father was a jeweller;                                      

c) he spent all his life in this town.

 

2. He entered the art school                        

a) of Ieguda Pen at the age of 20;

b) and very soon became a famous artist;

c) when he was a schoolboy.

 

3. At the art school, being a rather promising artist, Chagall

a) inherited some features of Pen's manner of painting;

b) helped the other pupils to master the secrets of painting;

c) was difficult to deal with.

 

4.  When Mark Chagall studied at the art school

a) he developed his own style of painting;    

b) he exhibited his pictures in Paris;

c) he got acquainted with S.Esenin.

 

5. After finishing the art school Mark Chagall and his friend Victor Mekler

a) decided to open their own art school;

b) went to study to Petersburg;

c) went to Paris to study painting.

 

 

6.  Chagall's love towards Bella Rosenfeld

a) made him very happy;

b) inspired him to create splendid pictures;

c) gave him possibility to become famous.

 

7.  Maxim Vinaver gave Chagall money

a) to set up his own business; 

b) to organize his first exhibition;       

c) to carry on his studies abroad.

 

8.  In Paris Mark Chagall

a) craved for meetings with professors;

b) married Bella Rosenfeld;

c) observed the life of city dwellers.

 

9. Mark Chagall's pictures

a) were destroyed by a madman;

b) appealed to experts;

c) were true to life.

 

10.  When Chagall lived in Paris he

a) frequented exhibitions and museums;                   

b) founded the National Art School;

c) kept away from exhibitions and museums.

 

11. Mark Chagall painted his Vitebsk series

a) on cardboard and paper;

b) on wrapping paper;

c) on canvas and paper.

 

12.  Chagall's in-laws

a) were proud of their daughter's husband;

b) didn't approve of their daughter's choice;

c) were connoisseurs of art.

 

13.  In 1918 Mark Chagall was appointed                                           

a) the Commissioner on the problems of art in Vitebsk region;                      

b) me Headmaster of the art school in Vitebsk;

c) the Chief painter of Vitebsk district.

 

14. At that time Chagall

a) worked much drawing portraits of his wife;

b) taught poor children the art of painting;

c) opened the National Art School.

 

15. In 1920 Chagall left Vitebsk for

a) Paris;

b) Moscow;

c)Petrograd.

 

16.  He confessed that

a) he liked Paris more than his natiye town;

b) Paris was the soil nourishing the roots of his art;

c) Paris was the only place where he could work fruitfully.

 

17. In each of his pictures Mark Chagall returned in dreams to

a)  his friends and places where he had lived;

b) his parents and his childhood;

c) his native place on the banks of the Dvina river.

 

18. In his pictures Mark Chagall demonstrated

a) his love to his native land by means of his mastery;

b) his love to his wife and his daughter;

c) his unusual sense of mind.                 

 

19.  The museum, named after Chagall was opened in

a) Minsk only in 2004;

b) Vitebsk only in 1991;

c) Paris only in 1992.