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Matisse #2
Matisse the Master: A Life of Henri Matisse: The Conquest of Colour, 1909-1954
“If my story were ever to be written down truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone,” wrote Henri Matisse. It is hard to believe today that Matisse, whose exhibitions draw huge crowds worldwide, was once almost universally reviled and ridiculed. His response was neither to protest nor to retreat; he simply pushed on from one innovation to the next, and left the world to draw its own conclusions. Unfortunately, these were generally false and often damaging. Throughout his life and afterward people fantasized about his models and circulated baseless fabrications about his private life.
Fifty years after his death, Matisse the Master (the second half of the biography that began with the acclaimed The Unknown Matisse ) shows us the painter as he saw himself. With unprecedented and unrestricted access to his voluminous family correspondence, and other new material in private archives, Hilary Spurling documents a lifetime of desperation and self-doubt exacerbated by Matisse’s attempts to counteract the violence and disruption of the twentieth century in paintings that now seem effortlessly serene, radiant, and stable.
Here for the first time is the truth about Matisse’s models, especially two his pupil Olga Meerson and the extraordinary Lydia Delectorskaya, who became his studio manager, secretary, and companion in the last two decades of his life.
But every woman who played an important part in Matisse’s life was remarkable in her own right, not least his beloved daughter Marguerite, whose honesty and courage surmounted all ordeals, including interrogation and torture by the Gestapo in the Second World War.
If you have ever wondered how anyone with such a tame public image as Matisse could have painted such rich, powerful, mysteriously moving pictures, let alone produced the radical cut-paper and stained-glass inventions of his last years, here is the answer. They were made by the real Matisse, whose true story has been written down at last from start to finish by his first biographer, Hilary Spurling.
Fifty years after his death, Matisse the Master (the second half of the biography that began with the acclaimed The Unknown Matisse ) shows us the painter as he saw himself. With unprecedented and unrestricted access to his voluminous family correspondence, and other new material in private archives, Hilary Spurling documents a lifetime of desperation and self-doubt exacerbated by Matisse’s attempts to counteract the violence and disruption of the twentieth century in paintings that now seem effortlessly serene, radiant, and stable.
Here for the first time is the truth about Matisse’s models, especially two his pupil Olga Meerson and the extraordinary Lydia Delectorskaya, who became his studio manager, secretary, and companion in the last two decades of his life.
But every woman who played an important part in Matisse’s life was remarkable in her own right, not least his beloved daughter Marguerite, whose honesty and courage surmounted all ordeals, including interrogation and torture by the Gestapo in the Second World War.
If you have ever wondered how anyone with such a tame public image as Matisse could have painted such rich, powerful, mysteriously moving pictures, let alone produced the radical cut-paper and stained-glass inventions of his last years, here is the answer. They were made by the real Matisse, whose true story has been written down at last from start to finish by his first biographer, Hilary Spurling.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Hilary Spurling
28 books50 followersHilary Spurling, CBE, FRSL (born 1940) is an English writer, known as a journalist and biographer. She won the Whitbread Prize for the second volume of her biography of Henri Matisse in January 2006. Burying The Bones: Pearl Buck in China was published in March 2010.
She is married to playwright John Spurling, and has three children (Amy, Nathaniel and Gilbert) and two grandchildren.
She is married to playwright John Spurling, and has three children (Amy, Nathaniel and Gilbert) and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 6, 2017
Matisse The Master was a well researched biography of Henri Matisse from 1909 until his death in 1954 that reads like a suspense novel. It was interesting to see how his career and art progressed as well as the influences of two world wars on Matisse, his art and his family. This volume contains many sketches, color plates of his art and photographs as well to enhance your reading experience. It was incredible to see how Matisse was not appreciated by the art community at best and often reviled at worst. Spurling has been one of my favorite biographers and didn't disappoint.
June 20, 2014
From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Eleanor Bron reads from Hilary Spurling's biography of the great French artist. Abridged by Doreen Estall
Eleanor Bron reads from Hilary Spurling's biography of the great French artist. Abridged by Doreen Estall
January 21, 2020
This book is the phenomenal second volume of the two-part work of Matisse’s biography by Hilary Spurling. I have a newfound love and appreciation for Matisse’s work after reading of his tumultuous life, passion for his work and challenges both personal and professional. Matisse suffered from chronic insomnia and myriad of health problems that included intestinal cancer that came with significant complications that impacted his mobility in later years. Yet even when bedridden Matisse continued to create. He transitioned to other art forms that included his now-famous cut-out designs.
Matisse also lived through World War II in Nazi-occupied France. His only daughter Marguerite, a staunch supporter of her father’s work, worked for the Resistance, was captured and tortured by the Nazis. A traumatic period for Matisse. Marguerite survived and emerged remarkably stronger, more confident and determined after the ordeal. As one of Matisse’s most loyal supporters, she catalogued his papers, his works and was the catalyst for a catalogue du raisonne which she and her husband, Claude Duthuit developed.
Spurling writes with great skill; the book reads like a page-turning novel. I appreciated the numerous colour photographs and illustrations—they enriched the reading experience. I looked up a handful of Matisse’s works online while reading. Viewing the works as the story unfolded made me appreciate Matisse’s techniques, style and creativity. He was a revolutionary artist even though many failed to understand his work. He was labeled a lunatic, a madman. The 'madman' portrayal clung to him throughout his career. After World War II when his work was in an exhibition alongside his friend Picasso at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, there were protests—some members of the public perceived the works to mock ‘civilized values for which the war was fought’ (p 441).
When Matisse transitioned to other art forms he used paper cut outs to create wall hangings, tapestries and ceramic tile designs. He also designed and built a chapel in Vence France, Chapelle du Rosaire, which Spurling describes as his desire to create something ‘monumental’. Matisse had found a champion for his chapel design in a young, 27-year old brother of the Catholic Church who admired the architect Le Corbusier—Brother Louis Bertrand Rayssiguier. The chapel against all odds (given Matisse’s fame did not resonate with the Roman Catholic Church) came to fruition in 1951 (p 449). There was tremendous opposition, including from a group of nuns, including the young nun, Monique Bourgeois who was partly the inspiration for the chapel. Bourgeois had been a nurse to Matisse after one of his surgeries. The chapel included innovative designs in stained glass windows (not of religious scenes), ceramic tiles covered with ‘graffiti-style’ images and paintings. Given Matisse was an atheist, the project was that much more controversial. His friend Picasso opposed the project vehemently. Yet Picasso admired Matisse’s cross design made of white ceramic tile decorated with images drawn freehand in black.
Matisse already spoke of the chapel as the crown of his life’s work. He firmly overruled a proposal to seek architectural input from Le Corbusier, producing instead a more biddable consultant of his own, the Parisian architect and academician August Perret (“He’ll do what I say,” said Matisse). P 450
Throughout his lifetime Matisse’s work consumed him. Yet family was almost as important. Spurling weaves a remarkable story of a tortured man, an artistic genius, and family man—one who loved his children, grandchildren and wife (even though in later years they were separated). Matisse died in 1954 at the age of eighty-four.
Spurling’s two-volume work is remarkable. Definitely a commitment to read, but worth it for fans of Matisse and/or of twentieth century art.
Matisse also lived through World War II in Nazi-occupied France. His only daughter Marguerite, a staunch supporter of her father’s work, worked for the Resistance, was captured and tortured by the Nazis. A traumatic period for Matisse. Marguerite survived and emerged remarkably stronger, more confident and determined after the ordeal. As one of Matisse’s most loyal supporters, she catalogued his papers, his works and was the catalyst for a catalogue du raisonne which she and her husband, Claude Duthuit developed.
Spurling writes with great skill; the book reads like a page-turning novel. I appreciated the numerous colour photographs and illustrations—they enriched the reading experience. I looked up a handful of Matisse’s works online while reading. Viewing the works as the story unfolded made me appreciate Matisse’s techniques, style and creativity. He was a revolutionary artist even though many failed to understand his work. He was labeled a lunatic, a madman. The 'madman' portrayal clung to him throughout his career. After World War II when his work was in an exhibition alongside his friend Picasso at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, there were protests—some members of the public perceived the works to mock ‘civilized values for which the war was fought’ (p 441).
When Matisse transitioned to other art forms he used paper cut outs to create wall hangings, tapestries and ceramic tile designs. He also designed and built a chapel in Vence France, Chapelle du Rosaire, which Spurling describes as his desire to create something ‘monumental’. Matisse had found a champion for his chapel design in a young, 27-year old brother of the Catholic Church who admired the architect Le Corbusier—Brother Louis Bertrand Rayssiguier. The chapel against all odds (given Matisse’s fame did not resonate with the Roman Catholic Church) came to fruition in 1951 (p 449). There was tremendous opposition, including from a group of nuns, including the young nun, Monique Bourgeois who was partly the inspiration for the chapel. Bourgeois had been a nurse to Matisse after one of his surgeries. The chapel included innovative designs in stained glass windows (not of religious scenes), ceramic tiles covered with ‘graffiti-style’ images and paintings. Given Matisse was an atheist, the project was that much more controversial. His friend Picasso opposed the project vehemently. Yet Picasso admired Matisse’s cross design made of white ceramic tile decorated with images drawn freehand in black.
Matisse already spoke of the chapel as the crown of his life’s work. He firmly overruled a proposal to seek architectural input from Le Corbusier, producing instead a more biddable consultant of his own, the Parisian architect and academician August Perret (“He’ll do what I say,” said Matisse). P 450
Throughout his lifetime Matisse’s work consumed him. Yet family was almost as important. Spurling weaves a remarkable story of a tortured man, an artistic genius, and family man—one who loved his children, grandchildren and wife (even though in later years they were separated). Matisse died in 1954 at the age of eighty-four.
Spurling’s two-volume work is remarkable. Definitely a commitment to read, but worth it for fans of Matisse and/or of twentieth century art.
July 6, 2012
In the second part of her superlative biography of Matisse, Hilary Spurling provides a splendid portrait of the artist as painter and family man. Relying on a range of source material never before accessed, Spurling develops the painter's life narrative as a smorgasboard of many personalities that remained enigmatic even to his immediate circle, including his family. Feverishly dedicated to his vocation, he described his painting as "a rape of myself, a certain tenderness or weakening in the face of a sympathetic object." However, his canvases always provided him a liberation, an expanded pictorial space "beyond me, beyond any subject or motif, beyond the studio, beyond even the house...a cosmic space in which I was no more aware of the walls than a fish in the sea."
In the pursuit of his art, Matisse imposed severe demands on all around him. The running of his studio and management of his dealings, almost always involved another dominant figure in his life, whether it was his wife, Amelie, or in the last two decades of his life, his Russian live-in manager, the extraordinary Lydia Delectorskaya. Spurling goes to great extents to establish that Matisse's relationship with his leading models and managers was purely for vocational reasons, with no involvement in the affairs of the heart. She is, in my opinion, only partly successful in persuading the reader.
All in all, this is a beautifully narrated biography, that shows Matisse almost passively becoming victim to his surroundings because of his singular honesty as an artist. Spurling provides a colorful account of the years in Tangier and Nice, his experience through the wartime years, the various solitary trips he undertook to Tahiti and to the United States, the extreme criticism he had to endure almost all through his life, especially in relation to his rival and contemporary, Picasso, as well as the eventual break-up of his family in his final decades.
This book is a marvelous read - once started, this account moves like a suspense novel filled with splashes of color and colorful personalities, a tour de force in biography writing, whose honesty of portrayal would have made Matisse proud...
In the pursuit of his art, Matisse imposed severe demands on all around him. The running of his studio and management of his dealings, almost always involved another dominant figure in his life, whether it was his wife, Amelie, or in the last two decades of his life, his Russian live-in manager, the extraordinary Lydia Delectorskaya. Spurling goes to great extents to establish that Matisse's relationship with his leading models and managers was purely for vocational reasons, with no involvement in the affairs of the heart. She is, in my opinion, only partly successful in persuading the reader.
All in all, this is a beautifully narrated biography, that shows Matisse almost passively becoming victim to his surroundings because of his singular honesty as an artist. Spurling provides a colorful account of the years in Tangier and Nice, his experience through the wartime years, the various solitary trips he undertook to Tahiti and to the United States, the extreme criticism he had to endure almost all through his life, especially in relation to his rival and contemporary, Picasso, as well as the eventual break-up of his family in his final decades.
This book is a marvelous read - once started, this account moves like a suspense novel filled with splashes of color and colorful personalities, a tour de force in biography writing, whose honesty of portrayal would have made Matisse proud...
July 12, 2012
Matisse has been my favorite artist for many decades. It has always fascinated me to see the many stages he progressed through in his art from the wild fauve period to the ornately patterned art and then the sublime paper cutouts. I had red only brief biogrphical sketches of his life before this and was practically exhausted reading how hard he worked to develop his art, how he agonized over his choices, and what a severe task master he was with himself and all of his family,
I found it was best to read only sort sections at a time so that I could focus on author Hilary Spurling's excellent scholarship of creating the art world context in which Matisse worked. It was, after all, one of the most dynamic periods of art exploration and innovation. the book rereads very well, and that is what I am doing at the present - rereading, pausing more, reflecting more, and perusing my art books as well as memories of museum viewings.
I found it was best to read only sort sections at a time so that I could focus on author Hilary Spurling's excellent scholarship of creating the art world context in which Matisse worked. It was, after all, one of the most dynamic periods of art exploration and innovation. the book rereads very well, and that is what I am doing at the present - rereading, pausing more, reflecting more, and perusing my art books as well as memories of museum viewings.
December 6, 2007
Along with Quentin Bell's biography of Virginia Woolf, this and Spurling's first volume, 'The Unknown Matisse' are masterpieces of the life writer's art. From the artist's early days in the poor and dim north of France to his last days in the light-filled south, there's enough detail here to sink a lesser biographical vessel. There's so much that we didn't know before---Spurling's scholarship is exhaustive--- but it's all so well told. This is not the Matisse that introductory art history courses in college conjure up. Here is no happy bourgeois, the angst-ridden Picasso's opposite number. Matisse had a hard life, from beginning to end. I devoured both volumes and was sad when I finished them.
September 6, 2008
As one who knows very little about modern art, this was a valuable way to learn about one if its great pioneers. This book covers Matisses' adult life, relating plenty of education about his work as well is a very detailed relating of his personal life. I would think that some people would like a shorter version of the story or, perhaps, a more direct explanation of Matisse' art and its importance.
March 2, 2018
Well worth reading to learn about Matisse the artist and Matisse the person, and those who surrounded, supported, and were part of his life.
May 18, 2016
A biography of Matisse as well as the art world of his time and place. There is much detail, always appropriate and nothing to skim over. A fascinating exploration of the evolution and revolution of both the art world and the world, "Matisse the Master" moves through turn of the century Europe, a time of constant, often disturbing change.
The world was changing and Matisse was painting. His influence on the art and artists of Europe was embraced by some and disparaged by others. As exposure to his paintings and views on art became known beyond Europe it was eagerly received by American artists working to break out the carefully drawn ideals of contemporary art as well as striving to create a brand new school of American art, free of the restrictions of traditional expectations of art. Matisse and many of his colleagues and the collectors of the day.
A highly readable biography of a giant of the art world who was a man who wanted to paint and to create art that when age restricted him physically he created a method of making his art, creating a new and exciting method - the cutouts as beautiful and joyful as his use of canvas, paint and brush.
The world was changing and Matisse was painting. His influence on the art and artists of Europe was embraced by some and disparaged by others. As exposure to his paintings and views on art became known beyond Europe it was eagerly received by American artists working to break out the carefully drawn ideals of contemporary art as well as striving to create a brand new school of American art, free of the restrictions of traditional expectations of art. Matisse and many of his colleagues and the collectors of the day.
A highly readable biography of a giant of the art world who was a man who wanted to paint and to create art that when age restricted him physically he created a method of making his art, creating a new and exciting method - the cutouts as beautiful and joyful as his use of canvas, paint and brush.
March 2, 2009
I'd give the first part a 1.5-2 star and the second have a 4-5 star...
Because of my lack of knowledge concerning both this artist and his style of painting in general I really struggled through the first couple hundred pages. It jumped right into him teaching art...with a daughter and new wife (not the mom of the daughter...but you didn't know that till much later in the book).
However, I thoroughly enjoyed the last couple hundred of pages. This was showing how his work and his life changed with both world wars and as he grew older. The book made a big effort to show him as someone who was faithful to his wife (even after they were separated) and even though he daily painted many nude models and was close to many of them (more or less adopted a few into the family during their stay).
While I still don't understand a lot of his work...I do have a greater appreciation for it after reading what he tried to convey with his use of abstractness and more so color. I would love to see the church he designed. He was a very exacting man...
Because of my lack of knowledge concerning both this artist and his style of painting in general I really struggled through the first couple hundred pages. It jumped right into him teaching art...with a daughter and new wife (not the mom of the daughter...but you didn't know that till much later in the book).
However, I thoroughly enjoyed the last couple hundred of pages. This was showing how his work and his life changed with both world wars and as he grew older. The book made a big effort to show him as someone who was faithful to his wife (even after they were separated) and even though he daily painted many nude models and was close to many of them (more or less adopted a few into the family during their stay).
While I still don't understand a lot of his work...I do have a greater appreciation for it after reading what he tried to convey with his use of abstractness and more so color. I would love to see the church he designed. He was a very exacting man...
Read
February 5, 2009Spurling devoted two volumes and more than 1,000 pages to her biography of Henri Matisse, and it is clear that she fell in love with the great artist by the time she had finished. Critics labeled Matisse the Master and its predecessor a monumental achievement worthy of its subject, and they noted that the second volume could easily stand on its own. Extensively researched and lovingly written, Spurling brings both the artist and his work to life, even for those already familiar with Matisse. If any criticism can be made about Spurling's book, it is that she approaches her subject too closely and is too quick to remove his life and work from their historical context.
This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.
July 16, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076r2v
4 Extra Debut.
1.
1909, and Henri Matisse's critics call his paintings monstrous. Can he find support? Eleanor Bron reads Hilary Spurling's biography.
2. 1914, and with his family scattered across France, Matisse expresses the horror and uncertainty of the First World War in his art.
3. 1930, and Henri Matisse's painting is dramatically influenced by his visits to New York and Tahiti.
4. 1938, and now in his 60s, Henri Matisse's art must endure personal upheaval as war looms.
5. Post-1945, Matisse applies his extraordinary scissor and paper technique to the design of the interior of the chapel at Vence.
4 Extra Debut.
1.
1909, and Henri Matisse's critics call his paintings monstrous. Can he find support? Eleanor Bron reads Hilary Spurling's biography.
2. 1914, and with his family scattered across France, Matisse expresses the horror and uncertainty of the First World War in his art.
3. 1930, and Henri Matisse's painting is dramatically influenced by his visits to New York and Tahiti.
4. 1938, and now in his 60s, Henri Matisse's art must endure personal upheaval as war looms.
5. Post-1945, Matisse applies his extraordinary scissor and paper technique to the design of the interior of the chapel at Vence.
June 19, 2008
Now I know why Matisse was an absolute genius. He took color and nude girls (unfortunately he never slept with them -- one model was so beautiful the other poor, totured artists called her The Sunset) and turned them into something beyond the beyond. He is still ignored in Paris. When I visited the Musee D'Orsay last year, Matisse was absent. Many French artists think he is a mere colorist. In my opinion, his work transcends not only the time it was made, but our time as well.
November 10, 2009
There were a couple of wonderfully insightful, tender and thought-provoking moments in this book that kept me going through the times when it seemed to be a slew of name-dropping- referencing folks who I have no clue who they were. Yet, when those moments came- ahh... Worth reading if you are a major fan of Matisse, yet if you just want to learn some about him, perhaps a different book would be better.
June 23, 2011
A most fascinating biography of the life of Matisse and his origins. Spurling's research is remarkable, her access unlimited. We witness the birth of a man who would crash through the doors of what is acceptable which resulted in a new language of art. His relationship with other painters including his nemesis Picasso is masterfully displayed. A must read for any and all who love the history of art.
December 3, 2007
This has some of the material the family released to Spurling prior to the opening of the archives next year. Although one reviewer (a man whose name I don't remember) felt the pace rushed after Mme Matisse is off the scene, I didn't have that sense. Beautifully written and gives the attentive reader as much as the Psalms on which to meditate.
April 8, 2010
Second volumes of Matisse's life. For some reason I liked this one better the first volume; it seems to get deeper into the artist's personality and art than its predecessor. However, looking back, I may have underrated volume one--for both of these are good books and probably a must for Matisse admirers.
December 15, 2011
Didn't finish the VOLUMINOUS book, but more than half way. I very much enjoyed the art criticisms surrounding various pieces by Matisse. This is THE art historians books however with every detail of Matisse's life (and those close to him) documented. Just too much for me. There are just too many other things I want to read!
January 16, 2013
This is excellent writing and research. But one feels sad for Matisse reading this book -- so much struggling and hardship in his painting and so many health issues in his family. I thought art making was all spontaneous and fun, but definitely not the case with him!(less)
Jan 24, 2013 01:00PM · delete
Jan 24, 2013 01:00PM · delete
February 10, 2008
This book would have received more stars from me except for some failings that seemed to be along the 'academic' lines. The style becomes wooden in places. The book content: more stars. The card file: fewer stars.
June 23, 2011
An in depth biography of the life of Matisse. Spurling leaves no stone unturned. She completely unmasks the genius and his tumultuous struggles to define a new window and perspective of art. I loved this book.
Read
September 21, 2012For lovers of Henri Matisse, this excellent biography offers insights into his career, artistry, and relationships -- including his wife, daughter, and models/muses.
June 21, 2023
I was co-translator in 1985 of Pierre Schneider huge, 'definitive', book on Matisse which was a heavily illustrated, researched and beautifully designed book. Since then I didn't feel the need to read anything more about the 'master'. Yet I can only share now, many years later, how glad I am that I persisted with Spurling's biography. She has brought him to life with a less theoretical approach, with details of people and places and unexpected turns, which must have involved considerable research. I was increasingly gripped by Matisse's story of his self doubt, rejection and research. His struggles, not to mention those of his wife Amelie and his daughter Marthe, and later Lydia, his indispensable assistant...are all very moving. Despite his obsessive drive, he does not seem to have had the same exploitative ego that is all too familiar from the stories of other male artists of the 20th century. I learnt so much more about his moments of desperation and how his persistent questioning, instinct and determination led him to new creative territories and true fulfilment.
January 26, 2024
AT LAST!! I started reading this bio in October of '23 and just finished yesterday - Jan of '24. It was a thrilling, passionate, illuminating, and exhausting read. I laughed, nodded with sympathy, shook my head in disbelief, sat pensively at times, and cried at the end. I've been a fan of Matisse since 1964 when my art teacher said, "Copy this painting Matisse did, and see what you think." And today, 60 years later, it hangs above my mantle, inspiring me still. He is all the more a hero to me today, given what I now know he went through to follow his passion for color. King of the Fauves.
I highly recommend this biography to anyone who wants to "live" it again. N
I highly recommend this biography to anyone who wants to "live" it again. N
April 4, 2021
Extremely detailed biography of Matisse, the man, but not so much Matisse the artist. It was so full of personal details and feelings that I started to wonder how much she made up. I was reading Flam’s collection of writings about Matisse and some of Spurling seemed lifted right from Flam’s documents. Still, if even half of it is true, Matisse had a very busy life and a lot of people he supported. To understand his art, look to Alfred Barr.
August 19, 2026
Is did not enjoy the reading of this as much as volume I but I also was distracted during the reading so that may have affected my assessment of her biography. It felt poorly edited and not cohesive, meandering and poorly formed.
But is still an amazing read and the frequent black and white as well as color reproductions add greatly to the portrait painted of Matisse by the author.
But is still an amazing read and the frequent black and white as well as color reproductions add greatly to the portrait painted of Matisse by the author.
December 18, 2018
This is an astoundingly excellent book, highly recommended. It is a book that every artist should read, after they have read the first book covering his early years. Wonderful in every way. One of the best biographies I have read.
February 6, 2020
Hard going at times, with a plethora of details about his domestic life, but this book (and its preceding volume) provides a fascinating insight into one of the most iconic and creatively courageous artists of the modern era.
January 24, 2024
Extraordinary. Richy detailed,moving and beautifully written.One of the best artist biographies i have ever read. Don't miss this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews