Henri Matisse - The Stations of the Cross (English version)

Description

Of all his works, Matisse's Way of the Cross is perhaps the most radical and undoubtedly also the most unique, as it is closely linked to the creation of his chapel in Vence, which was inaugurated in 1951.

A sequential composition illustrating a narrative text, its creation was a challenge for the artist, both in terms of its form-which ran counter to his aesthetic principles-and its subject matter. Matisse's lack of familiarity with Christian iconography undoubtedly explains the profusion of sketches and preparatory studies he needed, a quantity never before reached for his other compositions featuring multiple characters. This collection includes original charcoal and pencil drawings, excerpts from sketchbooks and notebooks, prints, and more from the Matisse Museum, the Chapel of Vence, and private collections.

Despite its unique nature, the Way of the Cross remains little known and studied. The exhibition dedicated to it at the Matisse Museum from October 1, 2025, to January 19, 2026, and its catalog examine in detail its genesis and creation.

A catalog that reflects the work: spiritual and daring, revealing universal pain.

Published in co-edition with the Matisse Museum in Nice and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

French version available