Pierre Bonnard said, "in the south of France, everything sparkles and the whole painting vibrates." Matisse, Picasso and Chagall took up residence.
A host of less well-known artists working in a variety of media also built homes and ateliers here -- from Le Corbusier to Hans Hartung to Henry Clews. Many have been turned into museums, or in the case of the artist Nall, a working studio open to the public. (Visiting hours are variable or by appointment.)
A close-up look at the artists' homes and work spaces, all within an easy drive from Nice, illuminates how the artists drew inspiration from the Côte d'Azur landscape.
If anyone is interested in this topic and can't access the story online, let me know, and I can email it to you. (I'm never sure what nonsubscribers of the Journal can read.)
hey mention the Columbe D'Or where we stayed several times(my birthday or anniverary gift at my request) In the book they talk about Yves Montand and Simone Signoret who met there, love at first sight, left their spouses and married there. Zelda Fitzgerald, jealous of scott's attention to another woman, threw herself down the stone(ouch!)stairs there.
Posts: 1131 | Location: cambridge,ma.usa | Registered: 27 January 2003
Thanks, Mimi -- that does look like a book I would love. I see that it is in our library system, so I will definitely check it out. Here is the Amazon link for anyone else who might be interested.
There are also the writers and the old Hollywood glamour staking out Antibes, with Graham Greene as a fixture of the old town, while Rita Hayward married the Aga Khan on Cap d'Antibes. Otto Preminger also had a house on the Cap. And David Niven was a couple of Caps over - in St Jean Cap Ferrat.
And don't forget Somerset Maugham who settled in Cap Ferrat. Noel Coward visited him often. Jean Cocteau as lived there til his death. He painted frescos in public buildings and villas, he decorated the town halls of St-Jean-capFerrat and Menton and chapels in villefranche and Fréjus James Balwin died at his place in St-Paul-de-Vence. In Cap D'Antibes, Gerald and Sara Murphy held court at their place Villa America. Guest included a host of the famous from Groucho Marx to Gertrude Stein
Posts: 1131 | Location: cambridge,ma.usa | Registered: 27 January 2003
