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Student Study Sheet
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was born on December 31, 1869 in the north of France.
Henri was planning on becoming a lawyer but when he was twenty-one
years old he became sick. His mother bough him a box of paints for
something to do while he was in bed getting better. Matisse
discovered that he didn't want to be a lawyer but what he really
wanted was to be a painter.
Matisse went to Paris and studied with a popular painter and teacher.
Matisse used bold, bright colors that showed cheerful feelings. When
Matisse and his friends showed some of their paintings people were
shocked by the way they used very bright colors. People called these
painters "wild beasts."
Matisse liked using these bright colors and many different patterns
in his work. Soon other artists felt that it was ok to use them too.
Throughout his life, his favorite things to paint were people. He
liked the joys of home life, family, and painting.
In 1898, Matisse got married. His wife was often a model for her
husband. They had three children who also chose art-related
careers.
In 1911, Matisse painted a picture called, "Goldfish." The goldfish
is in the center of the picture with plants around it. He used
orange, pink, and deep blue-purple in this painting. These unusual
colors are what made his paintings famous.
"Pianist and Checker Players" was painted in 1924. He used many
bright colors and a lot of patterns. Matisse like using many
different patterns in the same painting.
In the last years of his life, Matisse created a group of works using
shapes he cut from brightly colored paper. He also completed his
designs for a small chapel in Vence, a little town where he used to
live. He had begun the project by agreeing to do some stained glass
windows. He then went on to do murals and ended up designing nearly
everything inside and outside.
At the age of 82, Matisse was still working from his wheelchair or
bed. The last painting that Matisse did was from his bed. He used a
brush with a very long handle to paint the ceiling above him. He died
in Vence, in the south of France.
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bpawlosk@unomaha.edu, 5/20/97