Description:

Henri Matisse
n.p. [France], n.d. [ca. mid 20th century]
Henri Matisse ANS Re: Rosary Chapel Invitation, Possibly Alluding To His Monumental Tile Murals!
ALS

A 1p autograph note in French signed by celebrated modern artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954) as "H. Matisse" at center. N.d., n.p. Inscribed on watermarked paper. With several contemporaneous edits, including the cross out replacement of "de 10" with "à 11h" at the center. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles. Else near fine. 8.5" x 10."

Matisse addressed this note to "the Very Reverend Mother Gilles," who we speculate might have been the Mother Superior of the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence (Rosary Chapel of Vence), who was in all likelihood also its caretaker.

Matisse wrote in full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation. Translated in full:

"I beg the V[ery] R[everend] Mother Gilles to allow Mons. Claude Roy, writer and freeman, and his family, to visit the Chapel for a brief moment at 11 o'clock = (by necessity by the tiling [)].

Thanks and homages

H. Matisse."

Henri Matisse spent four years, 1947-1951, designing and overseeing the interior decoration of the Rosary Chapel (since dubbed the Matisse Chapel) at Vence, France. Matisse wrote in June 1951 of the project that "despite all of its imperfections, [it is] my masterpiece."

Matisse's special guest to the Chapel was Claude Roy (1915-1997), the poet, writer, journalist, former French Resistant, and French Communist. It is possible that Roy connected with Matisse through fellow artist Pablo Picasso. Roy and Picasso were very close, and the Spaniard, also then living in Southern France, illustrated one of Roy's books, "War and Peace."

The translation of the word "pavements," found in Matisse's letter, sometimes but does not always signify "tiling." It is difficult to ascertain with absolute certainty if that is the case here due to a lack of context. It is possible, however, that Matisse expressly wished that Roy and his family view his three monumental murals in the Chapel. In addition to the Chapel's three sets of stained glass windows, Matisse also designed several large-scale murals of painted tiles in striking black and white, all depicting biblical scenes. The 12" square white tiles, assembled into wall-sized panels, were painted in black outlines. The murals included a depiction of the Virgin and Child; a portrait of Saint Dominic, the 13th C. Spanish founder of the Dominican Order; and the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Henri Matisse had been approached about the chapel project by Monique Bourgeois (1921-2005), his former night nurse, occasional model, and close friend. Bourgeois had become a Dominican nun in 1946, taking the name Soeur Jacques-Marie. Members of her convent, Les Dominicaines de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame du Très Saint Rosaire, [the Dominicans of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Very Holy Rosary], had been worshipping in a garage and wanted a clean, new, modern space in which to practice their devotion. The chapel was consecrated by the Bishop of Nice in June 1951; sadly, Matisse's health problems prevented him from attending the ceremony.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 10"
  • Medium: ALS

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