COMUNICACIÓN Y PRENSA

On the occasion of the fact that this year marks the centenary of Matisse’s visit to the Alhambra, the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife (PAG) and the Spanish State Agency for Cultural Commemorations (SECC) have organised, in collaboration with the “laCaixa” Foundation, the Exhibition Matisse and the Alhambra (1910-2010), which recreates the French painter’s historic journey to the Nasrid monument.
Due to Matisse’s signature left in the visitors’ book of the Alhambra, this journey, which had such a great impact on the French painter, was proven. In fact, his work shows a progressive liberation of colour and drawing, as well as a desistance from didactic Naturalism. In the Alhambra, Matisse came into contact with Islamic art, which would influence his subsequent work.
In a letter to his wife, written from the guesthouse Villa Carmona the same day he visited the Alhambra, he said that the Alhambra was marvellous and that he felt a great emotion there. The exhibition is curated by María del Mar Villafranca, PAG Director, and Francisco Jarauta, Full Professor of Philosophy, University of Murcia. The exhibition catalogue was co-published by the publishing house TF Editores and is available in three languages Spanish, English and French.
The admission to the exhibition is free. The show is put on display until 28 February 2011 in the Temporary Exhibition rooms of the Museum of Fine Arts in Granada (in the upper floor of the Palace of Charles V), within the Monumental Complex of the Alhambra.