Henri Matisse and the Nuns of Vence

It's been a while, but I'm back after finding an interesting new inspiration...from my job as an art teacher, no less...

I read my students several books about great artists by an author named Laurence Anholt.  I have read to them about Vincent van Gogh (my favorite artist), Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and others, but really raised my eyebrows by recently sharing Matisse:  The King of Color.  I didn't know a whole lot about Matisse, and didn't really hold him as one of my favorite artists, not in the least.  The story, though, verges on the spiritual, due to the circumstances of the story, which is by the way true.

It concerns Matisse's last years as he was recovering from cancer surgery.  He required a nurse much of the time, and befriended a young nurse who became a Dominican Nun in Vence, France.  When Matisse learned that the nuns of Vence had no chapel in which to worship, he helped design and finance one for the nuns.  While his abstract, modern style wasn't popular with all the nuns there, the resulting Chapelle du Rosaire has become a work of art that Matisse claimed to be his masterpiece, as well as a working house of worship.

After sharing the story, from the art point of view, to several classes, I decided to research the story more.  I found that the nuns have a website, so I emailed them (in English) if they had any resources for me.  Through the course of several emails, which eventually morphed into the French language, I ordered a small book, which arrived today by way of snailmailbox.  

I just read it, and am amazed at how every single aspect of the design of the church was planned to intentionally lead the worshippers to Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.  I had never been able to correlate much modern art with Christianity, and frankly much of it flies in the face of our faith, but this story really has moved me.  I would love to visit the little chapel, although I know I probably never will.  I have truly enjoyed learning about the story of Matisse and these simple nuns, though.