Again,now on more familiar territory but always new finds in my road warrior ways ! I have passed by here several times but never stop until now, I came over to see family again, my dear late wife Martine oldest brother and voilà a new older spot in my world map ! This is the continuation of wonderful sights in the dept 59 Nord of the region of Hauts de France, and in my belle France , Therefore, let me tell you about the must to see,the Henri Matisse Museum of Le Cateau Cambrésis !! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Le Cateau-Cambrésis is located in the department 59 Nord in the Hauts-de-France region of my belle France. The town is 9.5 km from Caudry, 23 km from Cambrai, 28 km from Valenciennes and 34 km from Saint-Quentin. The regional capital, Lille, is 68 km away. The town is located right on the departmental road 643 (ex national route 43). The departmental road 932, also known as “Chaussée Brunehaut”, an old Roman road from Bavay to Vermand, passes to the east of the town.
The Henri Matisse Museum in Le Cateau-Cambrésis is a museum created by the painter himself in 1952. It is the only museum created by Matisse during his lifetime. He offered the town a collection of 82 works The initial establishment is followed by Lydia Délectorskaya, close collaborator of the painter. Matisse, aged and in fragile health, is absent, she sent a message read at the inauguration, and two of her children represent her, The museum is now closed for extension and modernization work until June 30, 2024, Expo are held in other buildings in town in the meantime, Henri Matisse was born in this town on December 31 1869, and died in 1954 without ever seeing his museum.
He transmits a message to the inhabitants of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, testimony to a life devoted to painting: “My fellow citizens of Le Cateau, whom I left so quickly to go where my destiny led me, wanted to honor my life of work with the creation of this museum (…). I understood that all the hard work of my life was for the great human family, to which a little of the fresh beauty of the world was to be revealed through me. So I would only have been a medium. And as giving back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, I helped the town of Le Cateau to create this museum. Part of the result of a life of work that was imposed on me by destiny, and therefore rightly placed. »
The museum presents three collections: The Matisse collection, a donation from the painter enriched with numerous donations from the artist’s family and important acquisitions. 783 works (26 paintings, 21 sculptures, 479 drawings, 220 prints, 32 illustrated books, 1 stained glass window, 19 personal objects). The Herbin collection, donated by the artist, enriched with acquisitions and the 2nd state of the Joie stained glass window (4 rooms) In 1956, one of the greatest abstraction painters, Auguste Herbin, offered 24 works to the city of his youth and thus constituted a second collection. 92 works (33 paintings, 2 sculptures, 39 drawings, 13 prints, 1 stained glass window, 1 piano, 2 painted stools, 3 personal objects). The Tériade donation, made up of works donated by Picasso, Chagall, Miró, Rouault, Matisse, Léger, Giacometti… to their art publisher, including the famous “Tériade dining room” decorated by Matisse and Giacometti. 590 works (26 paintings, 8 sculptures, 1 stained glass window, 2 ceramics, 5 drawings, 72 books).
The Henri Matisse Museum offers each visitor a place to meet the works, a space of poetry, rejuvenation and cultural adventure and offers temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art around its collections. A temporary exhibition room of 500 m² allows for this, According to the desire of Henri Matisse who said “I work to create art intelligible to everyone, whatever their culture”, the museum is a real tool for cultural development.
The Palais Fénelon former residence of the archbishops of Cambrai,who were the lords of Le Cateau Cambrésis and was built by the end 17C early 18C. The municipal public garden, known as Parc Fénelon, is the former palace park and dates from the 17C. Its plans were drawn by André Le Nôtre. It is today the headquarters of the Henri Matisse departmental museum. Henri Matisse offered his native town several of his works, including the stained glass window “Les Abeilles” installed in the playroom of the Matisse nursery school. In 1982 it was installed in the Palais Fénelon and became a departmental museum in 1992.
The official Henri Matisse Museum : https://museematisse.fr/
The Association Friends of the Henri Matisse Museum : https://www.amis-musee-matisse.fr/
The town of Le Cateau Cambrésis on its heritage : https://www.lecateau.fr/que-faire-au-cateau/decouvrir-le-cateau.html
The local Cambrésis tourist office on the Henri Matisse Museum : https://www.tourisme-cambresis.fr/musee-departemental-matisse.html
There you go folks, a dandy wonderful road warrior ride that we love it much, This time in the north of France and just lovely, Family area and memories flashing, but glad I did it . Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Henri Matisse Museum of Le Cateau Cambrésis as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
Interesting, I used to associate Matisse more with the light of the south, so I can see why it was so attractive to a painter originally from the north.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Painters are inspirational folks from different places not necessarily their home. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person