Henri Matisse and the French Riviera have a close relationship. Discovered in the latter part of his life, from Nice, via Cagnes-sur-Mer and Vence, the artist was able to find inspiration for his work.
An opportunity to discover the close connection between the painter and the area, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Henri Matisse and the French Riviera have a close relationship. Discovered in the latter part of his life, from Nice, via Cagnes-sur-Mer and Vence, the artist was able to find inspiration for his work.
NICE
In 1917, at the age of 48, Matisse fell in love with Nice and decided to move there, staying until the end of his days.
He initially settled at the Beau Rivage hotel on the Promenade des Anglais. Fascinated by the location, he set up his studio not far from there, at 105 quai des Etats-Unis. A year later, he chose to settle at the Hôtel de la Méditerranée et de la Côte d’Azur. The hotel rooms became the inspiration for his paintings where he arranged his models there surrounding superfluous: fabrics, flowers, objects and more.
In 1953, a year before his death, the artist donated some of his works to the city of Nice for the creation of a museum. This is the Matisse Museum, one of the most visited destinations in the city.
CAGNES-SUR-MER
Cagnes-sur-Mer is first and foremost the story of an artistic friendship, that between Matisse and Renoir. The two met in 1917, at his villa in Collettes. An understanding was born between the two artists, thanks to which Matisse was better able to perceive the particular color of the south.
Matisse took advantage of the tranquility of the Villa des Collettes and in particular of its garden, where he set up his easel.
In 1960, the villa became the Renoir Municipal Museum. A visit to this ancient villa promises an immersion in the painters’ lives.
VENCE
In 1943, Matisse had to leave Nice because of the bombings. So he settled in Vence at the villa “Le Rêve.” Fascinated by the town, the artist would stay there for five years.
During his stay, Matisse would receive several artists, such as Gide, Rouveyre, Picasso, Aragon, Breton and Bonnard.
Today, the villa has been transformed into a place of residence for experienced or amateur artists with the aim of holding internships where they could give way to the expression of their art.
But Vence is also famous for the Chapel of St. Mary of the Rosary, a Catholic Christian religious building designed and decorated by Matisse. The work was done at the request of Sister Jacques-Marie, born as Monique Bourgeois, a friend and former model of the artist.
At the back of the Chapel is a small museum with a number of Matisse’s works, including various sketches of the study phases for the realization of the Chapel, copies of the author’s major works, and some realizations of clothing for liturgical celebrations.
CIMIEZ
Even before Vence, Matisse had a soft spot for Cimiez. In 1931, in fact, Matisse took possession of a garage converted into a workshop. And not only that. In 1938 he became the owner of two apartments at the Le Regina hotel.
The relationship with Cimiez was renewed in 1949, when he took a studio room, as the artist was bedridden and disabled. It was then that he invented the cut-out paper technique.
Matisse died in 1964 and was buried in the Cimiez burial ground next to his wife Amelie.