Henri Matisse, Nature morte aux grenades, Vence, novembre 1947, huile sur toile, 80,5 x 60 cm. Donation Henri Matisse, 1953, Musée Matisse Nice. Photo © François Fernandez
Seventy years after the death of Henri Matisse (1869-1954), it is remarkable how his work continues to be an inexhaustible source of wonder. Exceptionally open and diverse, Matisse’s creations can be interpreted in countless ways. His body of work, which carries the ability to speak to each of us, has made Matisse a universally recognised figure in popular culture. A chrono-thematic narrative, spread over four floors, highlights the breadth of the museum’s collection, inviting visitors to discover or rediscover the master’s oeuvre.
The museum’s collection, whose essence lies within the story of its origins, was built through the generosity of Henri Matisse and his family. This public collection, one of the largest in the world, offers a comprehensive overview of the artist’s work, the wide range of media he used and an insight into his aesthetic explorations.
Located just a few metres away from his former studio at the Regina in Nice, where the artist worked for more than thirty years, the museum explores the reception of Matisse’s work. It currently features dossier exhibitions or juxtapositions with other artists, such as “The Overwhelming Power of Colour”, a display dedicated to Yves Klein, presented on the museum’s first floor.
