The #Matisse Museum in Nice [VIDEO-PHOTO GALLERY]

THE MUSEUM

The Matisse Museum was the subject of a renovation and expansion program and has reopened its doors in 1993. It now houses the permanent collection consisting of various donations, that of the painter himself, who lived in Nice from 1917 to 1954, his heirs or safekept by the state.

The collection consists of works from all periods and all techniques (68 paintings and gouaches cutouts, 236 drawings, 218 engravings, 57 sculptures, covering virtually all of the carved work, 14 illustrated books, silkscreen prints, tapestries, ceramics, stained glass). Its characteristic is to keep a set of personal items (187) Matisse found in many works. The interest of this collection lies in the presentation of Matisse's artistic development from his first painting of 1890, Still life with books, until one of his last compositions gouache paper cut-outs, Flowers and Fruits (1952 -1953).
Temporary exhibitions are organized every year. They give rise to lectures and screenings of art films.

THE GENOESE VILLA 

The first traces of an implantation of a modest house on the current site of the museum date back to 1622.

In 1670, Jean-Baptiste Gubernatis Nice consul, converts it into a rich house genoa appearance, with windows with trompe l'oeil and named "Palais de Gubernatis." The villa will be completed in 1685 by the President of the Senate of the City, Ambassador of Savoy in Spain, Portugal and Rome.

In 1823, the Palace Gubernatis becomes the property of Raymond Garin Cocconato which modifies the outside and inside to adapt them to the amenities of a mansion.

In 1923, the Garin Cocconato villa is sold by the last resident to a real estate company, that found it was an interesting building land. Anxious to preserve the site, the City of Nice, acquired in 1950 and renamed the house "Villa des Arènes"

In 1963, there took place on the ground floor the Archaeological Museum, on the upper floor the Matisse Museum.

In 1986, the archaeological museum is created on the nearby Roman site.
The Matisse Museum is renovated and expanded. It reopens its current form in June 1993.

The winner of an architectural competition in 1987, Jean-François Bodin implements a redevelopment program of the villa of the seventeenth and implementation of a new aile.La discovery of archaeological remains in the initially selected location for the new wing of the museum will modify the project that will develop in its current version .

The new wing is organized around three monumental works of Henri Matisse's paper cutout Flowers and Fruits, model of a decoration for the inner courtyard of a California villa, and bas-reliefs in bronze Dos Dos II and III. This part of the museum also has a library-card shop (NMR) and an auditorium. On the first floor of this extension, are the temporary exhibition rooms and a workshop where educational activities are held.

MATISSE AND NICE 

Hotel Beau-Rivage
in December 1917  Matisse rents a room in this hotel opposite the bay of Nice, next to the Opera House, the flower and vegetables market in Cours Saleya and the old town. Matisse painted : Autoportrait, My room at the Beau-Rivage,  Interior with violin, Interior in Nice, The open window.

105 Quai des USA
in March 1918, Matisse rents, next to the Hotel Beau-Rivage, an empty apartment where he set up his workshop. Painted: The Bay of Nice; Miss Matisse with Scottish coat; Inside, Woman reading with Scottish cloak, The violinist at the window.

Allied Villa
in May 9, 1918, Matisse rented this villa located 138 Bd du Mont-Boron. "Oh, it's a beautiful country Nice! What tender light despite its brilliance." Painted: Eucalyptus; Mont Alban, Blue Villa, Nice beach view from the Castle.

Hotel of the Mediterranean and the French Riviera.
in November 1918, Matisse moved in this hotel, now disappeared and which was located 25 Promenade des Anglais. Painted: Inside with the violin case; Woman with umbrella in the balcony; Woman sitting with Spanish com and striped dress; Interior in Nice; Flower Festival, Nice Tempest.

1 Place Charles Felix
the building whose facade closes the end of the Cours Saleya offers a unique view of the market square and the sea Painted. Odalisque standing with brazier, Still life with plaster torso, Nude gray, Nude in workshop, Lime dress

Hotel Regina
built by architect Biasini in 1897 to accommodate Queen Victoria and the British colony of Nice Painted: The Romanian Coat, the Etruscan vase Interior, Still Life with Sleeper, The Dream, The Luxury, Still life with magnolia, Rocking chair, Nymph in the forest (La Verdure).

Villa "Le Rêve" ("The Dream") in Vence. 
forced to leave Nice  in 1943 under the threat of bombing, Matisse rented the villa "Dream": He created: The Creole Dancer, The Wave, Flowers and Fruits, Blue Nude IV.
Matisse dies in the Regina on November 3, 1954. He is buried in the cemetery of Cimiez.

ADRESS :

164, av. des Arènes de Cimiez 06000 Nice.
Tel : (+33) (0)4 93 81 08 08 (informations)
Tel : (+33) (0)4 93 53 40 53 (conservation)
Fax : (+33) (0)4 93 53 00 22
e-mail: musee.matisse@ville-nice.fr

OPENING HOURS

Open 10am – 6pm all year round
Closed Tuesdays and some public holidays:
1st January, Easter Sunday, 1st May, 25th December

CHARGE

10€ - learn more

TRANSPORT INFORMATION

Bus : Numbers 15, 17, 20, 25.
Stop "Les Arènes / musée Matisse"

ACCESS

Pedestrian access
4 entrances to the Parc des Arènes: Av. des Arènes de Cimiez, Bd de Cimiez, Av. du Monastère, Place du Monastère.

Disabled access
The entire museum is accessible to the disabled

GUIDED TOURS

French – English – Italian – German Enquiries: +33 (0)4 9353 4053

Individuals
Monday, Thursday, Friday at 3 :30pm, or on request, depending on availability.
From 1 to 15 persons
Fee : 6€ per person

Groups
From 16 to 20 people.
Reservations required for all group visits, whether a guided tour or not,
by fax: +33 (0)4 9353 0022 or email: musee.matisse@ville-nice.fr
Enquiries: +33 (0)4 9353 4053.
Guided tour:
School groups: €20
Adult groups: €82

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN

- Wednesday afternoons, except during school holidays, in 5-session blocks: €40
Registration form available at the front desk of the museum.
- School holidays: course held at the Cimiez site, 4 sessions (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday): €32.
Enquiries: +33 (0)4 9353 4053. 

 Read also our former article.

Read also our former article