Three rare paintings by Russian Jewish artist Marc Chagall have been sold for a total of £1.5 million at a Sotheby’s Judaica auction in New York.

Chagall, a prolific painter known for his dreamlike scenes of European Jewish life, died in 1985.

His work is exhibited around the world and is highly valued by collectors. The pieces that were sold in New York this week went for well above their estimated value, including one showing the Interior of the Yemenite HaGoral Synagogue, Jerusalem, which was sold for £564,000.

The painting is one of only six images Chagall did featuring the insides of synagogues.