Musée Matisse
Musée Matisse stands in Nice’s Cimiez neighbourhood, inside the seventeenth-century Villa des Arènes. Gardens surround the villa in this historic part of Nice. Its rooms bring Henri Matisse’s paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, and personal objects together. The setting joins Matisse’s work to Nice’s architectural history.
The villa began as Palais Gubernatis, built between 1670 and 1685 for Jean-Baptiste Gubernatis. Nice gave it the name Villa des Arènes in 1950. The museum opened in 1963, first occupying the villa’s upper floor while archaeology used the ground floor. After archaeology moved in 1989, renovations created a modern wing. The collection follows Matisse from his beginnings through his final works, reflecting his life in Nice from 1917 to 1954.
Paintings and gouaches sit alongside photographs, illustrated books, ceramics, stained glass, tapestries, and documents. Personal belongings deepen that view of his working life. Donations from Matisse, his heirs, and the French State have shaped the collection. Workshops and guided visits explore his techniques and artistic process.
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