matisse retracing Matisse’s footsteps - MUSEE MATISSE DE ... · Femme à la robe blanche (Woman...
Transcript of matisse retracing Matisse’s footsteps - MUSEE MATISSE DE ... · Femme à la robe blanche (Woman...
matisse“When I realized
I would see that light
every morning,
I could not believe
my happiness.”
On the French Riviera, retracing Matisse’s footsteps
In Matisse’s footsteps…A land of light renowned for its landscapes, anchored on theshores of the Mediterranean Sea and open to the world, the Côted’Azur or French Riviera today continues to attract artists,including some of the greatest, as it did in the past. Very often,they discover it on a visit, succumb to its charms, find renewedinspiration and settle here to create masterpieces.
Henri Matisse surely illustrates this phenomenon more than anyother. In 1917, at the age of 48, he came to Nice to recover frombronchitis. He was awestruck by the ‘radiant colours andluminosity of the daylight’. He remained here practically to theend of his days.
The Nice Côte d’Azur invites you to retrace the footsteps ofHenri Matisse to the sites that so inspired him and are of as muchinterest today as they were in his day.
From Vence to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, including Cagnes-sur-Merand Nice, this itinerary unveils a very special art of living in thevery heart of the ‘Nice Côte d’Azur’ territory.
Jacques PeyratSenator,
Mayor of Nice President of “Communauté d’Agglomération Nice Côte d’Azur”
By
Edig
raph
ie
Cover
“When I realized I would see that light everymorning, I could not believe my happiness.”Quoted by Georges Salle, in the preface to theexhibition catalogue Henri Matisse, Nice, 1950
« Nu Bleu IV » (Blue Nude IV), 1952Gouache paper cut-out,charcoal sketch, 103 x 74 cmMatisse Museum, NiceDirection des Musées de France, Jean Matissedonation, on loan from the State, 1978Photo: François Fernandez © Succession Henri Matisse
Photo: Rauba Capeu, Nice© Olivier Monge, 2003
AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank:Dr Alain Frère and Jean-Claude Mari;Wanda de Guébriant and Gwenaëlle Fossard;Françoise Laville, Françoise Peter,Zia Mirabdolbaghi, Catherine Fenestraz,Marjorie Anzola and Joëlle Audry;Marie-Ange Riger, Bernard Begouin andSylvain Roger; Marie-Thérèse Pulvénis De Seligny,Marie-Pierre Nicola, Nathalie Lavarenne,Sylvie Grosgogeat, Katia Chanson, Collette Soardi,Gilbert Grisoni, Pierre Galzin, Claude Girault andIsabelle Gainche; Collette Aupy; Jean-Claude DeTroch and Patricia Brégère; Stéphane Emsellem;Sylviane Mathieu for their valuable assistance andcooperation in preparing this brochure.
Design and realization: Communication andCultural & Tourist Development Departments of the “Communauté d’Agglomération Nice Côte d’Azur” - 2005
Not to be missedn The historic town
With its elliptical layout, Vence isone of the few towns to havepreserved its ramparts, againstwhich people were allowed tobuild their houses starting in the15th-century stalls. Themediaeval town offers manyinteresting sights: picturesquestreets, fountains (includingFontaine du Peyra), the formerbishop’s palace and the Villeneuvecastle-Fondation Émile Hugues.
n Cathedral of Vence dedicatedto Notre-Dame de la Nativité
First built in the 4th century onthe site of an ancient Romantemple, the Cathedral acquired itspresent form in the 12th century.It has many listed remains, amosaic by Marc Chagallrepresenting ‘Moses Saved fromthe Water’ (baptistery), splendid15th-century stalls and 17th, 18thand 19th-century woodenpolychrome statues.
Villa Le Rêve in 1943 and today
In 1943, Matisse rented Villa LeRêve in Vence to get away fromNice, under threat of bombing.He planned to stay only a fewweeks, but, deeply touched by the
prevailing light and the charm ofhis home, with its terrace andflowers, “the fine plumes of itspalm trees that fill the windows,”he remained five years. In Vence,Matisse went to see his friendsGide and Rouveyre, and received
visits from Picasso, Aragon, Bretonand Bonnard. Today, this fine villa,property of the City since 2000, isa residence for artists and painters,experienced and amateur, who signup for weeklong (or weekend)sessions and can express their art inthe setting that so enchantedMatisse. The importance of thepresence of artists in Vence startingin the 20th century incited theChâteau de Villeneuve-Fondation Émile Hugues, in1992, to become a haven formodern and contemporary art onthe French Riviera. A donation bythe Matisse family has just enrichedthe collection. A visit to theFoundation in its fine 14th-centurylordly chateau quite naturally leadsto exploring the lovely historictown of Vence. Strollers canadmire the well-preserved rampartswith five remaining gates, narrowstreets and houses that havesurvived the ravages of time,squares and fountains and ancientRoman inscriptions. Visitors canalso choose to follow the Chemindu Calvaire (Calvary Way), soconducive to meditation.
Matisse in Vence“This work has taken me four years ofconstant exclusive work; it is the resultof my entire active life.”
(June 1951, letter by Matisse read by Father Couturier at the inauguration of the Chapel, then printed in L’Art Sacré, no.11-12, July-August 1951)
Nature morte aux grenades(Still life with pomegranates), 1947
oil on canvas, 80.5 x 60 cm - Matisse Museum, Nice
Pho
to: C
ity o
f Nic
e -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
The historic town of Vence
©P
ompi
dou
Cen
tre,
Kan
dins
ky L
ibra
ry -
Hél
ène
Adan
t Col
lect
ion
© C
ity o
f Ven
ce /
D.Z
intz
mey
er
Pho
to b
y H
.Del
Olm
o -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
vence
Some time before leaving Vence,Matisse agreed, out of friendshipfor the Dominican Sister JacquesMarie who had once posed as a
model for him, to decorate theRosary Chapel. The painter hadfirst thought only of thewindows. But he ended upworking on the very design andthe completion of the RosaryChapel. This realization is hisspiritual will. A major work heenjoyed calling his masterpiece,“despite all its imperfections,” a place one cannot visit withoutemotion. From Boulevard HenriMatisse, all that can be seen ofthe Chapel is the blue-and-whitetile roof and tall wrought-ironcross. Once inside, the beauty of the volumes defined byMatisse, solid white, simple andpure on the floor, walls andceiling are fascinating.Lemon yellow (light), brightgreen (plant life), pure
Here, Matisse painted:Femme à la robe blanche (Woman in a white dress) - Intérieur rouge (Red interior) -Nature morte sur table bleue (Still life on blue table) - La liseuse à la tablejaune (Woman reading at a dressing table, Matisse Museum collection Nice) - Nature morteaux grenades (Still life with pomegranates, Matisse Museum collection Nice) - Jazz (Matisse
Museum collection Nice) - Les Abeilles (Bees, Matisse Museum collection Nice).
Things to known Rosary Chapel466, Avenue Henri-MatisseTel: +33 (0)4 93 58 03 26
e-mail: [email protected]
n Château de Villeneuve -Fondation Émile HuguesA haven for modern and contemporary art2, Place du FrêneTel: +33 (0)4 93 58 15 78.Closed Mondays, open from 10am to12:30pm and from 2pm to 6pm. Guided tours on request.
n Villa Le Rêve(just three minutes from the RosaryChapel)261, Avenue Henri-Matisse. Visits by appointment. Weeklongpainting classes, with accommodationfrom March to November, withoutaccommodation from early December tothe end of February.Information from Joëlle Audry: Tel: +33 (0)4 93 58 82 68e-mail: [email protected]
n Tourist Bureau (Office de Tourisme de Vence)Place du Grand Jardin (06140)Tel: +33 (0)4 93 58 06 38e-mail: [email protected]
n How to get thereBy car: approximately 20km from Niceto VencePublic transport by coach: Lines 400 &410, stop: Place du Grand-Jardin,across from the Tourist Bureau.
ultramarine blue (the Mediter-ranean sky) give the stained glassfrank colours that transcend thelight. Everything here is sublimeharmony, majestic simplicity, sovisitors can feel, in Matisse’s ownwords, “purified and relieved oftheir burdens.”
Rosary Chapel, VenceAltar, Virgin and Child and Way of the Cross
Rosary Chapel, Vence - The spire
Pho
to b
y H
.Del
Olm
o -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
Pho
to b
y H
.Del
Olm
o -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
Pho
to: C
ity o
f Nic
e -
Mus
ée M
atis
se©
Suc
cess
ion
Hen
ri M
atis
se
Purple chasuble for the season of Advent and LentCollection Château de Villeneuve/
Fondation Émile HuguesDonated by Sister Jacques-Marie
Pho
to F
ranç
ois
Pon
çin
- ©
Suc
cess
ion
Hen
ri M
atis
se
vence
Rosary Chapel, VenceSanctuary with stained-glass window, altar and Saint Dominic
Villa des Collettes in 1917 and today
In Cagnes-sur-MerMatisse met Renoir“I look out over Nice, I am at Col deVillefranche, with the sun rising behindme. I can see the first colours appear onthe mountains towards Cagnes...”
(In Correspondance Matisse-Camoin, published by Danielle Giraudy, Revue de l’art n°12, 1971)
On 31 December 1917, Matissevisited the great painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in his Villa desCollettes. This meeting delightedthem both and was followed by
many others, during whichMatisse showed Renoir what hewas painting in Nice, at the BeauRivage. Alongside his elder,thanks to their conversations,Matisse was able to sharpen hisperception of the very specialcolours of the ‘Midi’. He wascomfortable in this peaceful
home and garden with itscenturies-old olive trees where he,too, set up his easel. Renoir spentthe last twelve years of his life atLes Collettes until 1919. Matissewas very impressed with themaster’s courage, despite thesevere physical constraints of hisillness: “Never have I seen sohappy a man and I have promisedmyself that, in my turn, I will notbe cowardly.” The Villa has beena municipal museum since 1960,one of the most movingtestimonials to one of thefounders of Impressionism.Everything has remained in place:furniture, objects, studio... no one can remain indifferent tothis little paradise on earth,aficionados and novices alike.With eleven of the master’spaintings and many of hissculptures, the Renoir Museum isin a flower garden, with the farmof Les Collettes, so oftendepicted by the artist.
Not to be missedn The mediaeval villageThe mediaeval village offers a maze ofsloping cobbled streets, vaultedpassages, flower-decked steps,remarkable houses, unusual vistas,restaurants, artists’ studios and craftsshops, like Terraïo, displaying itsturquoise faience creations for thirtyyears near the Castle. At the entrance,stands a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Protection, decorated withmurals dated 1530.
n Grimaldi Castle-MuseumIt dominates the mediaeval village withall its nobility. A municipal museumsince 1946, this listed historic buildinghouses the “Musée ethnographique del’olivier” (ethnographic museum of theolive tree), the Suzy Solidor Donationand temporary exhibitions ofcontemporary art.
n Espace SolidorLike many other artists, Suzy Solidorlived in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Her house,located on Place du Château, is nowdedicated to exhibitions ofcontemporary jewellery, earningCagnes-sur-Mer the “Ville & Métiersd’Art” (City of Arts and Crafts) label.
Renoir’s studio at the Renoir Museum
Jardin de Renoir (Renoir’s garden), 1925Oil on wood panel, 37.8 x 46 cm
Switzerland, Private collection
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
© C
ity o
f Cag
nes-
sur-
Mer
Com
mun
icat
ion
Dep
artm
ent
© C
ity o
f Cag
nes-
sur-
Mer
Com
mun
icat
ion
Dep
artm
ent
© C
ity o
f Cag
nes-
sur-
Mer
Com
mun
icat
ion
depa
rtm
ent
cagnes-sur-mer
history and perceive its proudnature. With each step, newlandscapes enchant the eye and,climbing slowly towards theGrimaldi Castle-Museum to thetower, there appears a grandiose
From the seafront recentlyredesigned in contemporary style,elegant and planted with trees,you can glimpse the mediaevalvillage of Haut-de-Cagnes as didMatisse on his first visit to Renoir.The old Provençal stronghold hasretained some of its mystery anddiscloses itself as you advancetowards it. Nothing should bemissed of its many sloping streets,its houses (some of which datefrom the 15th century), its stepscovered with flowers, to savour its
Things to known Renoir MuseumChemin des CollettesTel: +33 (0)4 93 20 61 07Closed Tuesdays, Christmas Day,New Year’s day & 1 May. Open from10am till noon and from 2pm to 5pm(6pm from 2 May to 30 Sept).Free parking. Guided tours forgroups and individuals, informationat the Tourist Bureau.
n Grimaldi Castle-MuseumHaut-de-Cagnes, Place GrimaldiTel: +33 (0)4 92 02 47 30
+33 (0)4 92 02 47 35Closed Tuesdays, Christmas Day,New Year’s day & 1 May. Open from10am till noon and from 2pm to 5pm(6pm from 2 May to 30 Sept). Free shuttle from the coach station.
n Hippodrome de Cagnes-sur-Mer (racecourse)Horseracing in winter and summer.Information: +33 (0)4 92 02 44 44
n Tourist Bureau of Cagnes-sur-Mer6, boulevard Maréchal-Juin (06800)Tel: +33 (0)4 93 20 61 64In the mediaeval village of Haut-de-Cagnes Tel: +33 (0)4 92 02 85 05e-mail: [email protected]
n How to get thereBy car: A8 motorway, exit at Cagnes-sur-Mer.Public transport by coach toCagnes-sur-Mer: Lines 200, 400 and 500www.lignedazur.com
Here, Matisse painted:Oliviers, jardin de Renoir à Cagnes (Olive trees, Renoir’s garden in Cagnes), 1917 -Paysage de Cagnes avant l’orage (Landscape in Cagnes before the storm), c. 1918 -L’automne à Cagnes (Autumn in Cagnes), 1918 - Maison entre les arbres (House
between the trees), 1919.
panorama. This mediaeval fort built in 1310 by RainierGrimaldi, Lord of Cagnes and Admiral of France, wasoriginally a defensivewatchtower.In the 17th century, it became a fine lordly home with thecharm and opulence of a truepalace. Acquired by the City ofCagnes-sur-Mer in 1937, theGrimaldi Castle-Museum offersvisitors an opportunity todiscover remarkable collectionsranging from ethnography tocontemporary art, as well asrooms with exceptional paintedceilings in the Baroque style.
The mediaeval village
Hippodrome de la Côte d’Azur (racecourse)
Street in Haut-de-Cagnes
Le Carnet de dessins (sketchbook), 1946Black & white photoMatisse Museum, Nice
© B
rass
aï E
stat
e/R
MN
- ©
suc
cess
ion
Hen
ri M
atis
se
© O
livie
r D
igoi
t
© O
livie
r D
igoi
t
© N
ice
& Y
ou
cagnes-sur-mer
In 1917, at the age of 48, thepainter came here to recover frombronchitis. He remained hereuntil the end of his life in 1954.From his little room at Hôtel BeauRivage - an elegant 4-star hotelover a century old, whose entrancecan be admired on Rue Saint-François-de-Paule - Matisse couldglimpse the sea and the play oflight. Dazzled, he rented a flat justa few metres away at 105 Quaides États-Unis for his studio.
In 1918, he moved to Hôtel de la Méditerranée & de laCôte d’Azur (gone today),where he stayed four years;Matisse long remembered thisplace that had so inspired him.Today, with much of its pastluxury restored, Palais de laMéditerranée has reopened onPromenade des Anglais. Behindthe immense façade (a listedhistoric landmark), thecontemporary touch and the
You are at the gates to Nice,already on Promenade desAnglais: a striking image,exchanges of bewitching blue,gentle sunshine, theMediterranean accompanyingyour steps for several kilometres...Like Matisse, you are discoveringthe magic of the Riviera.
Not to be missedn Jardin Albert Ier
The link between Promenade desAnglais and Quai des États-Unis, thisvast garden bounds Place Masséna,the city centre with its shopping area,luxury shops and hotels. Thebandstand evokes the charm of yore,while the Theatre in the Green(Théâtre de Verdure) and BernarVenet’s Arc add a modern touch.
n Cours Saleya
In addition to the flower and fruit-and-vegetable markets, Cours Saleyais lined with restaurants and caféswith their broad terraces brimmingwith life day and night; it hosts anantiques market every Monday.
n Baroque treasures of Old Nice
The Old Town of Nice is rich with asplendid Baroque heritage. Churches,chapels and palaces, like the PalaisLascaris Museum, illustrate the pastfor strollers.
“I decided never to leave Nice, and remained there nearly my entireexistence”.
(quoted in the preface by Georges Salle to the exhibition catalogue“Henri Matisse, Nice, 1950”)
Nice, the sea frontand the old town
Palais de la Méditerranée, 1935And Palais de la Méditerranée today
nice
© F
abri
ce R
ambe
rt©
Jea
n G
illet
ta
Intérieur à Nice - la sieste(Interior in Nice - the nap), 1922
oil on canvas, 66 x 54.5 cmMnam / Cci, G. Pompidou, Paris
Pho
to: C
NAC
/MN
AM D
ist.R
MN
/Jac
quel
ine
Hyd
e -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
Pho
to b
y Ag
athe
Mau
ryNice and Baie des Anges
Things to known Convention & Visitors Bureau of Nice
5, Promenade des Anglais (06000) Tel: +33 (0)8 92 707 [email protected]
n The ‘Little Train’ of Nice
A 45-min tour along the seafront,through Old Nice and on the CastleHill. Departure across from Hôtel Méridien.
n Tours in horse-drawn carriages
Departure in front of Jardin Albert Ier.
n Nice le Grand Tour
Discover Nice from an open-top bus.Departure in front of Jardin Albert Ier.Information at the Convention &Visitors Bureau
Here, Matisse painted:Autoportrait (Self-portrait) - Ma chambre au Beau Rivage (My room at the Beau Rivage) -La Baie de Nice (The Bay of Nice) - Intérieur, femme lisant en manteau écossais(Interior, woman reading in a plaid coat) - Le Violoniste à la fenêtre (Violinist at the window) -Intérieur à Nice (Interior in Nice) - Fête des fleurs (Flower fête) - Tempête à Nice (Storm
in Nice, Matisse Museum collection, Nice) - Decorative figure against an ornamentalbackground - Odalisque au coffret rouge (Odalisque with a red casket, Matisse Museum
collection, Nice) - Petite Pianiste robe bleue fond rouge (Little pianist, blue dress, red
background, Matisse Museum collection, Nice) - Nu dans l’atelier (Nude in the studio).
harmony between the residentialand festive functions recall thepersistence of this singularestablishment in the creativesphere. This is where the firstgreat Matisse exhibition was heldin Nice in 1946. In 1950, asecond exhibition devoted to thepainter, very much involved inmodern art in Nice, inauguratedGalerie des Ponchettes. That triggered the FrenchRiviera’s great artistic adventure,followed by the opening of themany museums that stillcharacterize the region and apermanent tribute tocontemporary creation asexemplified by MAMAC*.
You are facing the sea, irresistiblyattracted to Cours Saleya, livelyand colourful, just behind you.
On Place Charles-Félix at its eastern end stands a finebuilding. This is where Matisseonce lived: first on the thirdfloor, later on the fourth floor, in a larger flat overlooking all ofBaie des Anges.
* The Museum of Modern and ContemporaryArt of Nice.
The market on Cours Saleya
nice
© P
aul L
ouis
© N
ice
& Y
ou
La Vague, 1952 (The Wave, 1952 - Gouache paper cut-out),51.5 x 160 cm - Matisse Museum, Nice
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
© C
ity o
f Nic
e -
Mat
isse
Mus
eum
Matisse at the inauguration of Galerie desPonchettes, 1950
The building at No. 1, Place Charles-Félix,where Matisse once lived
Behind Place Charles-Félix whereMatisse resided, the Castle Hill,90 metres high, draws all yourattention. Climb to thiswonderful public parkoverlooking the city and the sea,to breathe in the delightfulfragrances of its typicallyMediterranean vegetation. Fromthis exceptional viewpoint that
you can also discover the Port of Nice, a splendid harbour ofmodest size, lined with Italianatefaçades.At No. 50 Boulevard Franck-Pilatte, the dynamic ClubNautique de Nice remembers: in 1927, a new member came tojoin. His name? Henri Matisse.Enthralled with canoeing, the
The port of Niceinspired the painter“...I love canoeing. I do it everyafternoon and paint only in themorning when the light is right”.
(Interview with Tériade, excerpt from “Visit to Henri Matisse”, L’Intransigeant, 14 & 22 January 1929)
Here, Matisse painted:Les Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus trees) -Mont-Alban (Mont-Alban Fort) - La Villa bleue (Blue Villa) - Plage àNice vue du Château (The beach of
Nice seen from the Castle Hill).
Not to be missedn The Castle HillThe Castle Hill is a wonderful place tostroll; at nightfall it comes alive withmagical lights. It is accessible on foot,by lift or by car. Now a park, it hassome remains of the old citadel,destroyed in the 17th century, ofwhich only Tour Bellanda remains,overlooking the sea.
n Quai Rauba CapeuConnecting Quai des Ponchettes andthe Port, thisprojection onthe sea offersresolutelycontemporaryarchitecturerewarded by aspecial prizefor urbanplanning andprovidesstrollers withtrulyastoundingvistas.
n Museum of Modern andContemporary ArtNot far from the Port, near PlaceGaribaldi, this great museum with itsfour towers connected by galleries,illustrates the commitment of the Cityof Nice to contemporary art, withpermanent collections (works fromthe School of Nice in particular) andtemporary exhibitions.Information: +33 (0)4 93 62 61 62
n FlorianAt 14 Quai Papacino, the formerChocolaterie Florian, well known toMatisse, is now called ConfiserieFlorian. Free guided tours in fivelanguages.Information: +33 (0)4 93 55 43 50
painter loved rowing. His 154outings at sea in nine monthsearned him a medal for assiduity,a source of great pride for him.Just a stone’s throw from thePort, towards Villefranche-sur-Mer, the residential Mont-Boron district is a peaceful leafyhaven with a grandiosepanorama on the MediterraneanSea. This is where Matisse soughtrefuge with his son Pierre in1918 when he had to leaveHôtel Beau Rivage.
nice
Matisse rowing in the Port of Nice
Pho
to: M
atis
se A
rchi
ve (D
.R)
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
Rauba Capeu, Nice© Olivier Monge, 2003
Odalisque au coffret rouge(Odalisque with a red casket), 1926
oil on canvas, 50 x 65 cm - Matisse Museum, Nice
You leave the seafront to headtowards Cimiez. Near LycéeMasséna, you will see RueDésiré-Niel where, in 1931,Matisse took over a former
garage temporarily converted intoa studio at No. 8. The spaceavailable was ideal for the workunderway, a commission from the
famous American collector, Dr Albert Barnes, for the maingallery in his Foundation. This was ‘The Dance’, amonumental work for which thepainter resorted to the techniqueof gouache-covered paper for the first time.Along Boulevard de Cimiez, youare charmed by the fine buildingson either side, witness to thesplendour of the Belle Époque inNice. You see the imposingsilhouette of the Régina, oncethe majestic residence of QueenVictoria, where Matisse boughttwo flats on the third floor in1938. This vast living area wherehe also made his studio, filledwith vases, furniture, plants,fabrics and wall hangings, was hislast home: he died there on 3 November 1954.Matisse now rests in a special areaof the Cemetery of Cimiez, wellkept up and always decked withflowers.
Matisse in Cimiez“Most people come here for the lightand the picturesque. I am fromNorthern France; what struck me werethe great flashes of colour in Januaryand the luminous daylight”.
(Yves Bridault, 1952, “J’ai passé un mauvais quart d’heure avec Matisse” ‘I had a hard time with Matisse’ - Arts, n° 371, 13 August 1952)
Not to be missedn The Matisse MuseumSee following page.
n Matisse’s tombLocated in the Cemetery of Cimiez, it is opento the public: entry left of the Monasterychurch, then follow the signs.
n The church of the Monastery of Cimiez and its gardenThis Franciscan church dedicated to “Notre-Dame” houses, among other splendours, afamous Pietà, one of three fine Late Gothicworks by Louis Bréa, the cloister and areligious museum. The Monastery Garden isa very popular place to stroll, with itsbeautiful rose garden and a breathtakingview on the city.
n The Amphitheatre of CimiezThe city’s oldest monument, the ancientRoman amphitheatre hosts performances byfolk dancers and groups and such majorevents as the world-famous Jazz Festival ofNice that takes over the Park of Cimiez everysummer and uses the amphitheatre as oneof three stages.
n The Archaeology MuseumBuild on the Gallo-Roman archaeological site,just a stone’s throw from the Amphitheatreand the Matisse Museum, it displayscollections of artefacts from the excavationsof the ancient Roman town of Cemenelum,witness to the great Mediterraneancivilizations and their rich trade.Tel: +33 (0)4 93 81 59 57
nice
The Monastery of Cimiez rose garden
© N
ice
Con
vent
ion
& V
isito
rs B
urea
u
© J
ean
Gill
etta
© C
ity o
f Nic
e, P
hoto
grap
hy D
ept
Matisse’s studio in NiceP
hoto
: Mat
isse
Arc
hive
(D.R
) - ©
Suc
cess
ion
Hen
ri M
atis
se
The west tower and wing of the Régina fromits private garden in 1897
And the Régina today
Things to known Matisse Museum
164, avenue des Arènes de Cimiez.Tel: +33 (0)4 93 81 08 08e-mail: [email protected] Tuesday and some holidays.Open from 10am to 6pm. Guided toursin French for individual visitors onWednesday at 3:30pm, no reservationrequired.Free shuttle for visitors between theMarc Chagall National BiblicalMessage Museum and the MatisseMuseum (tickets available at thereception of both museums).
n How to get there
Public transport by bus:Lines no. 15, 17, 20, 22, 25 -stops: ‘Les Arènes’ or ‘CimiezMonastère’.www.lignedazur.com
style villa with its red-ochrefaçades, expanded in 1993 withthe addition of a contemporarywing with pure discreet lines,houses works made by the artistthroughout his career, masterpiecesfrom his years in Nice in particularand, what is very interesting, a large number of personalpossessions that were the subjectof or elements in many of hiscompositions. The MatisseMuseum invites visitors to enterthe painter’s private creativeuniverse. The Museum’s new wingorganizes temporary exhibitions,and has an auditorium, a workshop for artistic teaching, a ‘cabinet de dessins’ created for
Located across from the Régina inthe Park of Cimiez, the MatisseMuseum is a perfect example ofsuccessful harmony between oldand modern. The fine Genoese-
Here, Matisse painted:La Danse inachevée (Unfinished Dance), 1931 - La Danse de Paris (The Dance,Paris version), 1931-1933 - La Danse de Mérion (The Dance, Barnes Foundation,Merion PA, USA), 1932-1933 - La Blouse roumaine (Romanian blouse) - Intérieurau vase étrusque (Interior with an Etruscan vase) - Nature morte à la dormeuse(Still life with sleeping woman) - Le Rêve (Dream) - Le Luxe (Luxury) - Nature morteau magnolia (Still life with magnolia) - Fauteuil rocaille (Rocaille armchair) -Nymphe dans la forêt (Nymph in the forest, la Verdure, Matisse Museum collection, Nice)- La Danseuse créole (Creole dancer, Matisse Museum collection, Nice) - La Vague(The wave, Matisse Museum collection, Nice) - Fleurs et Fruits (Flowers and fruit, MatisseMuseum collection, Nice) - Le Nu bleu IV (Blue nude IV, Matisse Museum collection, Nice).
nice
the Museum’s fortieth anniversary for the collection’s many drawingsand a shop. The painter enjoyedambling through the parksurrounding the Romanamphitheatre of Cimiez with itscenturies-old olive trees. It adds to the beauty of the site; Art andNature lovers never tire of it.
Inside the Matisse Museum
The park of the amphitheatre of Cimiez and its centuries-old olive trees
La Danseuse Créole (Creole Dancer), 1950gouache paper cut-out, 205 x 120 cm
Matisse Museum, Nice
The Matisse Museum
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
enri
Mat
isse
Pho
to: C
ity o
f Nic
e -
Pho
togr
aphy
Dep
t
Pho
to: C
ity o
f Nic
e -
Mat
isse
Mus
eum
Pho
to: C
ity o
f Nic
e -
Pho
togr
aphy
Dep
t
Eze-Village, The Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Matisse’s publisher had a villa atSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Thepainter enjoyed visiting him,always dazzled by the light, thelandscape and the Mediterraneanenvironment that, between theland, the sky and sea, utterly
villefranche-sur-mer, saint-jean-cap-ferrat, beaulieu-sur-mer, eze
Matisse visitingCap-Ferrat“This is a land where light plays themain role; colour comes after... above all, you must feel that light, have it in you...”.
(Marchand, 1947)
Not to be missedn Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratThe harbour and its restaurantsThe seashell museumChapelle Saint-Hospice, which housesreproductions of Louis Marchand des RauxVilla Ephrussi de RothschildThe Zoological Park3 hiking trails
n Villefranche-sur-MerThe 16th-century citadel and its threemuseums (sculpture and painting)The fishermen’s village and its bayChapelle Saint-Pierre decorated by Jean Cocteau
n Beaulieu-sur-MerThe Casino gardensVilla KerylosThe yachting harbour
n EzeThe perched village, its narrow streets,art galleries and restaurants.The botanical garden and its exotic plants
Things to known How to get thereBy car: East of Nice, on the Moyenne andBasse Corniche.Public transport by coach: Line 81, on theBasse Corniche (RN 98)
n Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Tourist Bureau55, Ave. Denis-Semeria 06230Tel: +33 (0)4 93 76 08 90www.ville-saint-jean-cap-ferrat.fre-mail: [email protected]
n Villefranche-sur-Mer Tourist BureauJardin François-Binon 06230Tel: +33 (0)4 93 01 73 68www.villefranche-sur-mer.com
n Beaulieu-sur-Mer Tourist BureauPlace Georges-Clémenceau 06310Tel: +33 (0)4 93 01 02 21www.ot-beaulieu-sur-mer.fr
n Tourist Bureau of EzePlace Général-de-Gaulle 06360Tel: +33 (0)4 93 41 26 00www.eze-riviera.com
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
© O
livie
r D
igoi
t
© B
eaul
ieu-
sur-
Mer
Tou
rist
Bur
eau
© N
ice
& Y
ou©
Vill
efra
nche
-sur
-Mer
enchanted him, so much so thathe sometimes stayed near theharbour at Villa Lou Mandiou.His son Pierre Matisse is buriedin the cemetery of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
1869
Birth on December 31 in Le CateauCambrésis (northern France);childhood in Bohain.
1887-89
Attendance at the Paris Law Schoolafter which he became a solicitors’clerk in Saint-Quentin, while taking artlessons at the École Quentin-Latour.
1890
First experience with painting, whileconvalescing.
1895
Admission to Gustave Moreau’sstudio at the Beaux-Arts in Paris,where he met Rouault, Camoin andManguin.
1898
Marriage to Amélie Parayre;honeymoon in London and visits toToulouse and Ajaccio (Corsica).
1901
Exhibition of his works at the Salondes Indépendants under Signac’spresidency and meeting withVlaminck.
1904
First personal exhibition at AmbroiseVollard’s gallery.
Key dates in the lifeof Matisse
1905
Summer in Collioure with Derain;exhibition at the Salon d’Automnewhere works by Matisse, Derain,Friesz, Manguin, Marquet, Puy,Rouault, Valtat and Vlaminckdisplayed together in one roomearned the artists the name Fauves(‘wildcats’ for their violent colours).
1909
Two murals on Dance and Musiccommissioned from Matisse byShchukin, an art lover from Moscow.
1910
Retrospective at the Bernheim Jeunegallery.
1912-13
Travels to Morocco with Camoin andMarquet.
1916
Arrival in Nice; first visit to Renoir inCagnes-sur-Mer.
1918
Exhibition at Paul Guillaume’s galleywith Picasso.
1921
Move to Nice where he would spendone half of the year, the other half inParis.
1922
Odalisques series.
1930-31
Travel to Tahiti and, at the end ofthe year, acceptance of a commissionby Dr Barnes for a large mural onthe theme of The Dance; rental of astudio at 8 Rue Désiré-Niel in Nice,to create The Dance.
1938
Move to the former Hôtel Réginaconverted into a block of flats on thehill of Cimiez.
1943
Temporary move in June to Villa Le Rêve in Vence to flee the threatof bombing in Nice.
1948
Beginning of work decorating theRosary Chapel for the DominicanSisters in Vence and use of gouachecut-outs.
1949
Return to the Régina in Nice.
1950
Major exhibitions in Nice and Paris.
1951
Inauguration on 25 June of theChapel in Vence; retrospectiveexhibition at the Museum ofModern Art, New York.
1952
Inauguration of the Matisse Museumin Le Cateau Cambrésis.
1953
Donation by Matisse to the City ofNice for the creation of a museumof four works - Nature morte auxgrenades (Still Life withpomegranates), La Danse créole(Creole Dance), Océanie le ciel(Oceania, the sky), Océanie la mer(Oceania, the sea) - and fourdrawings in the Themes andVariations series.
1954
Death in Nice on 3 November; finalresting place in Cimiez.
the life of matisse
Autoportrait - Grand Masque (Self-portrait - large mask), 1944
lithograph 53.9 x 37.9 cm Matisse Museum, Nice
© Succession H.Matisse
Pho
to :
City
of N
ice
- ©
Suc
cess
ion
Hen
ri M
atis
se
COMMUNAUTÉ D’AGGLOMÉRATION NICE CÔTE D’AZURParc Phœnix - 405, Promenade des Anglais 06202 Nice Cedex 3Tel. : +33(0)4 89 98 10 00 - Fax : +33(0)4 89 98 10 33www.agglo-nice.fr - [email protected]
Femme à l’amphore(Woman with amphora), 1953
Gouache paper cut-out,174.5 x 51.5 cm
Matisse Museum, Nice
Pho
to: C
NAC
/MN
AM D
ist.R
MN
/Phi
lippe
Mig
eat -
© S
ucce
ssio
n H
.Mat
is