Baltimore Museum of Art debuts inaugural exhibition on Matisse's Vence chapel mural

The Baltimore Museum of Art launched an exhibition on March 29 that marks the first comprehensive presentation focused on Henri Matisse's mural The Stations of the Cross. This artwork was created for the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence, France, which represents Matisse's sole architectural endeavor, completed between 1947 and 1951. Matisse oversaw all aspects of the chapel's design, including its stained glass, altar, liturgical garments, and three ceramic murals. The Stations of the Cross illustrates Christ's path to Calvary and is notable within Matisse's oeuvre for its narrative quality and bold, jagged lines, diverging from his typically smooth and vibrant aesthetic. The exhibition is curated by Asma Naeem, the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art, and Aymeric Jeudy, Director of the Musée Matisse. This presentation provides an in-depth examination of a significant yet less familiar phase of Matisse's career, highlighting his engagement with religious themes and architectural integration.