Matisse in Vence: The Stations of the Cross brings together more than 80 remarkable drawings that reveal the artist at his most daring, inventive, and spiritually profound. Many of these works are leaving France for the first time, making this presentation a rare opportunity for American audiences.

Tracing Matisse’s bold creative journey, the exhibition shows how the artist transformed simple, expressive lines into the monumental Stations of the Cross mural created for the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, his only architectural project and one of the defining achievements of his late career.

Stripped of color yet charged with emotion, these sweeping black lines capture the drama of Christ’s final path in a way only Matisse could imagine. Visitors experience the thrill of watching a masterpiece take shape, from spontaneous sketches to the commanding final vision.

Featuring loans from the Musée Matisse Nice, the Chapel of the Rosary, and private collections, the exhibition offers an intimate look at the artist’s creative process.

Henri Matisse. Detail of The Stations of the Cross, Chapel of the Rosary, Vence. All copyright-protected works by Henri Matisse © 2025 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: © Musée Matisse Nice/François Fernandez