Colours of the Côte d’Azur Twentieth-century Classics along the French Riviera

Study Tour Overview

In Association with Warwickshire Art Fund

In 1887 the poet Stéphen Liégeard invented the term Côte d’Azur, referring to the stretch of coastline between Toulon and San Remo. He thus baptised an earthly paradise which for its natural beauty, sparkling luminosity and magical colours – above all the inimitable eponymous hue of this part of the Mediterranean – is hard to beat. Since the 19th century the land of the French Riviera has been a favourite destination of aristocratic, literati and glitterati visitors alike: Queen Victoria, Edith Wharton, Coco Chanel and Wallis Simpson have been among the leading ladies. It is no wonder that the Côte d’Azur became such a source of inspiration to generations of painters who flocked here to discover and celebrate the artistic qualities of the land. We will be exploring some of the major movements of 20th-century art, from Pointillism and Post-Impressionism to Fauvism, Cubism and beyond, following in the footsteps of some of the greatest 20th-century artists — Bonnard, Chagall, Cocteau, Leger, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Signac — all of whom captured the Côte d’Azur’s allure more vividly than any modern holiday brochure could ever hope to achieve. On top of the artistic highlights, the region’s caressing Mediterranean warmth, its lush scented flora and a blend of French savoir vivre with Italian flair make this Art Pursuits Abroad Study Tour an unforgettable experience

 Programme Details

Day 1	Morning flight at c.9.20 with British Airways from London Heathrow to Nice. Visit the Musée des Beaux Arts, with works by artists ranging from the Rococo painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who hailed from the nearby town of Grasse, to the Fauvist designer Raoul Dufy.
Day 2	An all-day coach excursion starts at Cagnes-sur-Mer where we will enjoy a visit to the house, studios and gardens of Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir: it is here where the artist spent the last twelve years of his life and his presence remains tangible to this day. From Cagnes return to Nice for an afternoon in two wonderful museums in the upper crust suburb of Cimiez: a 17th-century villa is dedicated to the glowing Mediterranean colours of Henri Matisse, while the light-filled halls of the purpose-built Musée Chagall house this artist’s captivating Biblical Messages.
Day 3	Coach excursion to Menton, near the French-Italian border. With a climate even milder than the rest of the Côte d’Azur, this coastal resort is famous for its gardens and our visit will take us to the nine-acre terraced Jardin Serre de la Madone, laid out in 1924-39 by Lawrence Johnston, creator of the celebrated earlier garden at Hidcote Manor. The afternoon is dedicated to the filmmaker, writer and designer Jean Cocteau who became an honorary citizen of Menton in 1958. In addition to a fascinating museum with Cocteau’s works, the town hall’s Salle des Mariages and the interiors of the 17th-century harbour fort are the result of this all round artistic genius.
Day 4	Our first destination today is the fortified hill town St Paul de Vence where we shall explore the remarkable Fondation Maeght, an outstanding private art collection, amassed by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght who knew all the artists working in south-eastern France. In the nearby market town of Vence Matisse designed and decorated the Chapelle du Rosaire — from stained glass and tiled murals to liturgical vestments. From there continue to the beautiful village of Biot, home to the Musée National Fernand Léger, where a stunning collection of over 300 of his works documents Léger’s fifty-year-long career.
Day 5	In 1892 St Tropez became the home of pointillist Paul Signac who, together with friends like Matisse, Seurat, Dufy and Vlaminck, quickly turned the once remote and unassuming fishing village into a bohemian hothouse. Since the 1950s St Tropez has been a centre for celebrity spotting, but our visit will focus on the former harbour chapel, now the Musée de l’Annonciade, which houses one of the finest collections of Post-Impressionist and Fauvist works. Returning towards Nice we will be stopping at Le Cannet to enjoy the colourful works of Nabis painter Pierre Bonnard who resided here from 1922 until his death in 1947.
Day 6	Spend a morning dedicated to Pablo Picasso in and around Antibes: he had his studio of 1946 in the town’s 16th-century Château Grimaldi — today the Musée Picasso with twenty-three of his paintings of that period forming the heart of the collection. From Antibes Picasso went to live at nearby Vallauris for nearly ten years where he decorated the interior of the mediaeval chapel with his monumental murals of War and Peace. During the same period the Spanish genius, inspired by traditional local pottery, took up working in clay and the local museum contains an outstanding display of his ceramic creations. Return to Nice for a free afternoon.
Day 7	By coach toVilla Ephrussi Rothschild, situated in a stunning location on the Cap Ferrat peninsula to the east of Nice. Here we will explore the estate’s wonderful gardens as well as a collection of rare porcelain, old master paintings and antique furniture — the whim of a seriously wealthy heiress. After lunch, continue to Nice airport for a mid-afternoon flight scheduled to land at London Heathrow at 4.30pm.