1869
Born on 31 December in Le Cateau-Cambrésis. His parents are seed merchants in Bohain-en-Vermandois (North of France). Has two brothers, Émile, who dies young, and Auguste (1874-1946).
Biography of Henri Matisse
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1882-1887
Henri Matisse, 1887 | Photo : Archives Henri Matisse / D. R.
Attends Saint-Quentin High School.
1887-1890
Studies Law in Paris then works as a clerk in a law office in Saint-Quentin.
1891
Settles in Paris, attends the Julian Academy.
1892-1897
"Henri Matisse en Bretagne", 1896 (photographie d’Émile Wéry), Photo: Archives Henri Matisse / D. R.
Henri Matisse, Village en Bretagne, 1895, huile sur toile, 59,5 x 73 cm, Musée Matisse Nice © Succession H. Matisse | Photo © François Fernandez
Enrols at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in Gustave Moreau’s studio. Makes friends with Albert Marquet, Henri Manguin and Charles Camoin. Meets Camille Joblaud (1873-1954), birth of their daughter Marguerite (1894-1982) on 31 August 1894. First studio at 19, quai Saint-Michel.
First series of landscapes painted in Brittany during three consecutive summers (1895 -1897).
1898
Henri Matisse, La cour du moulin à Ajaccio, Ajaccio, 1898, huile sur toile, 38,5 x 46 cm, Musée Matisse Nice © Succession H. Matisse | Photo © François Fernandez
Marries Amélie Parayre (1872-1958). They spend several months in Corsica and in Toulouse. Paints many landscapes. His palette evolves towards vivid colours.
1899
10 January : birth of Jean Matisse (1899-1976) in Toulouse.
Back in Paris, attends the Académie Camillo where Eugène Carrière corrects students’ works. Meets André Derain there. Starts sculpting and visits Auguste Rodin.
Buys from Ambroise Vollard Paul Cézanne’s painting, Three bathers, which will be a talisman for him.
1900
13 June: birth of Pierre Matisse (1900-1989) in Bohain.
1901-1903
Exhibits at the Salon des Indépendants for three consecutive years and at the first Salon d’Automne in 1903.
1904
Henri Matisse, Figure à l’ombrelle, Collioure, 1905, huile sur toile, 46 x 37,5 cm, Musée Matisse, Nice © Succession H. Matisse | Photo © François Fernandez
First solo exhibition at the Ambroise Vollard gallery. Spends the summer in Saint-Tropez, paints with Paul Signac and Henri-Edmond Cross using the divisionist technique.
1905
"Salon d’automne de 1905", couverture du catalogue d’exposition Photo: Ville de Nice, Musée Matisse
Spends the summer in Collioure with André Derain. Paints many landscapes using pure colours. Exhibits in the so-called “Fauves” (wild beasts) room of the Salon d’Automne. Leo and Gertrude Stein purchase La Femme au Chapeau at the Salon.
1906
"Statuette Vili", Congo, ancienne collection Henri Matisse, Collection particulière Photo: Archives Henri Matisse / D. R.
"Henri Matisse, sa femme Amélie et leur fille Marguerite", Collioure, 1907 Photo: Archives Henri Matisse / D. R
Paints Le Bonheur de Vivre (also called The Joy of Life).
Solo exhibition at the Druet gallery in Paris. Travels to Biskra in Algeria.
Second summer in Collioure.
Pays frequent visits to the sculptor Aristide Maillol in Banyuls.
Buys his first African sculpture.