If you are in Rome before the 21st of June, there is an exhibition that you absolutely cannot miss: "Matisse Arabesque", in the "Scuderie del Quirinale". For different reasons and not only for the magnificent Matisse's paintings, drawings and even ballet costumes that are exposed. About a hundred works all together, not in a chronological way but following the influences that inspired them.
Scuderie Del Qurinale - Rome
"La révélation m'est venue d'Orient " (the revelation came to me from Orient) wrote the French painter (who was born in 1869 in the North of France and died in Nice in 1954), in a letter, in 1947. This beautiful roman exhibition shows how the painter was deeply influenced by oriental art exposing many marvellous objects like ceramics, fabrics, masks... from Africa and Middle and Far East. Matisse discovered some of those countries travelling, in the beginning of the 20th century, in North Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia...and Russia. Also visiting the "Exposition Universelle" of Paris (1900) where Persia or Turkey had their pavilion. Or the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris where he had the first impact with an "Islamic Art" exhibition when he was a very young man, in 1893.
The Exhibition Poster
At that time, the western artists were rediscovering the Oriental world. And a little later, in the 1920, also the African art, seen as a liberator from formal constraints.
Especially for Henri Matisse who fell in love with painting (the occasion was a health problem) and began to learn it when he was already an adult and had started to work as a lawyer.
Especially for Henri Matisse who fell in love with painting (the occasion was a health problem) and began to learn it when he was already an adult and had started to work as a lawyer.
Islamic Ceramic - 17th Century
The intricate geometrical designs of the oriental arabesque entered in most of his paintings. The same motives and the same marvellous mélanges of green and blue of Turkish ceramics, or the reds of Moroccan fabrics, are very present in the paintings exposed at the Scuderie. The space is made with colours, often without any need for perspective, with just an incredible "joie de vivre" that explodes everywhere. In a aquarium with red fishes, through a Mediterranean window, in a vase with flowers, a palm three full of sun, the simple drawing of a tree with his stalks and leaves.
Intérieur Au Phonographe - 1924
Le Paravent Mauresque - 1921
Japanese culture is also very important for Matisse. When he designed the costumes for the Ballets Russes (Le Chant du Rossignol of Stravinski), in 1920, the Japanese kimonos were obviously the model, as we can see it in the Scuderie where we can admire the origin of all this essential beauty that Matisse offer to us. One of the most beautiful 16th century green and blue ceramic comes from Syria. It is very touching, especially in this dark period, to see all these testimonies of such a refined and old culture that gave so much to the world and to our greatest artists.
Lierre En Fleurs - 1941
Costume For The Ballet "Le Chant Du Rossignol" - 1920
