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Matisse in the studio - The Open College of the Arts

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Matisse in the studio thumb

Matisse in the studio


Join tutor Clare Wilson at the Royal Academy of Arts London on Sunday 5 November 2017. We will be visiting Matisse in the studio – an exhibition that explores the relationship between the French artist’s eclectic collection of objects and his work.
Matisse was a collector throughout his working life. African fabrics, Rococo chairs and Chinese porcelain were amongst his possessions. He embraced the colour and pattern of textiles and believed that the decorative could inform and enhance his paintings and sculptures.
Matisse referred to his diverse collection of artefacts as his ‘working library’ and would fill his studio with these sources of inspiration that provided him with a rich vocabulary.
For example, his painting The Safrano Roses at the window was influenced by the movement of light through an Andalusian glass vase. Both are on display in the show.
The exhibition visit provides an opportunity to view and reflect on the work of an important and influential 20th Century artist, as well as meeting fellow OCA students.
To reserve your place please email enquiries@oca.ac.uk or alternatively to request a place on a study visit please click here and complete the form.
For study events that require a ticket, there is a non refundable fee of £10 to pay and your confirmation email will instruct you on how to do this.
Image Credits
Photograph of Matisse painting the model Zita in Nice, 1928
The Safrano Roses at the window, 1925 by Matisse
Vase, Andalucia, Spain early 20th Century


Posted by author: Clare Wilson

2 thoughts on “Matisse in the studio

  • Recommended. It’s lovely to see the objects next to the paintings in which they feature. It also reinforces the idea that Matisse used the world as a starting point for his paintings, but pushed and pulled it into another shape when making his work.

  • This is a wonderfully inspiring exhibition …. with a range of works from sketches to cut outs and everything in between (including Sculpture). It is not an enormous exhibition, but what is there is well worth seeing, and it really gives an insight into Matisse’s practice. Sadly I cannot make the study visit with Clare, but I would recommend a visit if you get the opportunity.

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