Create Art with Matisse

Live in his House and Paint in his Studio

Henri Matisse spent much of his artistic life in the south of France, on the French Riviera. In the 1940s he lived in an imposing Mediterranean villa in Vence, near Nice. The artist is long gone, of course - he died in 1958. But his property is now open to groups of artists who wish to practice their art under the influence of the master and who want to experience the creative environment that has attracted so many famous artists to the region.

Villa Matisse, a three-story colonial building, offers charming and welcoming accommodations (see "THE VILLA " below). The surrounding gardens are superbly colorful and, in the spring, the air is sweet with the fragrance of orange blossoms. The property can be rented by the week from April to October and can accommodate up to 15 guests.

Painting sessions are held in upstairs studios, with views of the Mediterranean on the horizon, or outside in the gardens. Plein-air painting excursions can also be organized in the surrounding hills or down on the Mediterranean coast.

Groups of artists of all levels are invited, from beginners to more established professionals. This hands-on art tour and workshop will give you the opportunity to improve your creativity and artistic skills in a relaxed and congenial atmosphere.

With Matisse looking over your shoulder, the tour is much about creating art, needless to say. But outside the villa, the immediate vicinity also abounds with lots of opportunities for art appreciation tours and other artistically inspirational visits. See for yourself:

Museums

• Matisse Museum, Nice
• Fine Arts and Modern Art Museums, Nice
• Chagall's Biblical Museum, Nice
• Retif Museum, Vence
• Maeght Foundation (Miro, Giacometti...), St Paul-de-Vence
• Picasso Museum, Antibes
• Fernand Léger Museum, Biot
• Jean Cocteau Museum, Menton

Chapels

• Matisse's Chapel of the Rosary, Vence
• Picasso's War and Peace Chapel, Vallauris
• Jean Cocteau's Chapelle St Pierre, Villefranche-sur-Mer
• Tobiasse's Chapelle St Sauveur, Le Cannet/Cannes

Others

• Renoir's house, Cagnes-sur-Mer
• Art galleries, St Paul-de-Vence
• Tramway stations with modern art, Nice
• Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice
• Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Tuscan palazzo, Cap Ferrat
• Villa Kerylos, Greek palazzo, Cap Ferrat

To live and breathe the atmosphere of Matisse's old home is a very unique experience. Although there is no absolute certainty it will make a better artist out of you (it might!), there is one thing for sure... It will leave some of the most beautiful visions and wonderful memories in your creative mind.

Dates: The villa is available for group rental by the week, from Saturday afternoon to the following Saturday morning. The season runs from mid-April to early October. Additional touring can be arranged before and/or after the week at the villa.

Price estimate for a group of 15 people: from $1,990 per person. Price of tour will depend on the season, number of participants, exchange rate, departure city and any additional meals, visits, excursions, art teacher fee, etc.

Included in above price: Airfare to and from Nice (a minimum of 10 participants is required for group airfare), villa rental for 7 nights, 4 catered dinners including wine, 2 airport transfers (one bus for the whole group), 1 day trip, 1 free space for group leader.

Not included: Breakfasts, lunches, 3 dinners, museum entrance fees, art teacher fee, if applicable... and other items not specifically mentionned in "Included" above.

Please note: This is a very popular tour. Some groups return every year and make their reservations well in advance.

Book early... Space is limited!

THE VILLA

Villa Matisse offers a pleasant and comfortable environment, but the accommodations are not luxurious. The concept of this art tour is to be a"self-catering" and "self-cleaning" type of vacation.

The villa offers informal accommodations. It is not a hotel, so there is no porter and no staff for daily serving or cleaning. Professional cleaning is done once a week before the arrival of the each group, every Saturday (guests must leave before 10:00 am and the next group is not allowed in before 1:00 pm that day).

A fully-equipped kitchen is available to prepare meals. Grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, etc. are only a 15-minute walk from the villa in downtown Vence. Meals can also be brought in by a local caterer for an extra fee. There is a barbecue outside. Guests normally do their own shopping, but this can also be hired out to a local person.

Each bedroom has a sink and a shower, but the toilets are common. A washing machine is available for laundry. Cleaning products and all linens are provided.

The three studios come with 15 easels, sketching boards, tables, chairs, sinks, pots and rags. Artists are expected to bring their own art supplies. The garden and patio have tables, chairs, parasols and a pergola with lights.

Summer temperatures are not excessive in this area, so there is no air conditioning. In nearby Nice, situated lower on the coast, average highs and lows are 80 and 68 degrees in July and August. Vence, at a higher elevation, is normally slightly cooler in the summer. In April, the range is from 61 high to 49 low; and in May and October from 68 high to 56 low.

The goal is to paint and experience art (not to watch CNN) so there is no television, radio or telephone. A wifi connection is available for your laptop.

Access around the property is difficult for people with restricted mobility. There is no elevator in the house and the gardens are landscaped on three levels connected by steps. There are a dozen steps from the parking lot to the front door.

Smoking is not allowed inside the villa.

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