Beginning in 1917, Henri Matisse moved to Nice and lived in several hotels on the Mediterranean, including the one that we stayed at, Le Palais de La Méditerranée. On view now, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a exhibition called Matisse: In Search of True Painting.
This painting, Room at the Hotel Méditerranée, is in the
show at the MET, and was done in 1919.
show at the MET, and was done in 1919.
Our terrace at Le Palais de la Méditerranée, and below,
the view of the sea from our room.
Not quite the same decor, but the view is the same.
Not quite the same decor, but the view is the same.
While we were in Nice, we took an excursion to the Matisse Museum situated on a hill above Nice in a town called Cimiez. The museum is easily reached by a bus which costs one Euro. It is housed in a pink villa which is set in a lovely park featuring statues of great American jazz musicians.
Before we went to the Museum, we stopped for
a coffee at the charming kiosk in the park.
I think that French people like to take
the time to enjoy life as with this
mother and her son, setting up a table
the time to enjoy life as with this
mother and her son, setting up a table
under delicate tree branches.
Every French park has a carousel!
These must be sailboats on the Baie des Anges.
The Matisse Museum is set in a bucolic grove of trees.
Matisse did not actually live in this villa.
Immediately after taking this photo, I was told by
a guard "No photos!"
So what else is new?
Polynésie la mer. Papiers gouachés, découpés, collés et marouflés sur toile.
What I loved the most in the museum were
The Large Blue Dress, 1937
So what else is new?
What I loved the most in the museum were
some fine examples of Matisse's gouache paper cutouts.
It's a trip worth making to this magical museum.
Back to the MET. This painting was done when Matisse moved further inland from Nice to Vence. He did this to get away from the threat of bombs during World War II. A Russian woman named Lydia Deletorskaya was his model and assistant at this time. She is the model for The Large Blue Dress.
And this, my dears, is the large blue skirt, sewn by Lydia expressly so that she might pose in it for the painting. The skirt is in the MET show, and of course, this is a totally purloined photo, taken when the eagle-eyed MET guard was looking another way. But one must have a photo of a big blue skirt!
Pretending to pose for Henri at The Gallery, Carlyle Hotel.
À Bientôt.
Loved all the photos Carol. Especially the last photo of you at the Carlyle.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is always one of the most joyful places on the internet. I was just browsing some image files and came across one that immediately reminded me of you and your fabulous hats http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=465444
ReplyDelete