20100510 BBC Matisse

Conclusion of Modern Masters episode of Henri Matisse. Visit to Chapelle du Rosaire, Vence (near Nice), France.

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Closed Caption:

and right at the end of his life when
you think he could go no further
he created something utterly unlike
anything he'd done before
Matisse was an atheist
well that's what everyone thought he
once wrote my only religion is love the
work to be created and total sincerity
but when recovering from the operation
for bail cancer he was nursed by a woman
who later became a Dominican nun Sister
Jack Murray there was no chapel in her
convent just down the road from
Matisse's home in advance so to thank
you for a care he had one built
designing it right down to the last
detail this beautifully tranquil garden
is the setting for the chapel that
Matisse design right at the end of his
life he called this place the crowning
achievement of his entire career which
is completely extraordinary thing to say
given that first and foremost he was
known as a painter
I've never visited before i'm just about
to go inside and find out what it's like
yeah
yeah
yeah
incredibly still and serene space this
is
this is the Stations of the Cross this
is the agony of Christ it's an image of
suffering which you never ever see
entities and art he has that at the back
and opposite is this beautifully
colorful look at this window this is
called the tree of life and it's all
about growth of these patterns of leaves
and foliage sprawling up and I think
just being here that window repudiates
that it says you know what it doesn't
have to be agony and strife it's so
appropriate does this right at the end
of his career because look here I mean
this is the sunlight coming through its
glowing all his life he tried to do this
on canvas he with pigments that would
really hit you but in a way none of them
have a patch on this this is just you
can look at this all day
yeah
this is a man who spent his life almost
painting as what he did and in this
place
he's left oil paints behind entirely and
instead the substance that he's working
with his material is light Matisse said
that in his life he was trying to create
a sense of calmness and his pictures or
in his art he said the reason was
because he himself is in need of peace
and I really relate to that I mean you
know I don't know anyone who doesn't
have moments of anguish and anxiety in a
turmoil and he suffered from that
throughout his life and in his work he
created something which east
and what else can you ask of a great
work of art
and
her generally feel quite moved by it and
I think the reason is he was so old we
designed this place and I don't I find
that phenomenal
the fact that he had this kind of final
surge of creativity shortly before his
death
it's just so beautiful
matisse said do I believe in god yes
when I work and with this Chapel his
work was done and his creations of
simplicity and color would change our
world