The Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, a masterpiece by Henri Matisse, was born from a profound friendship and an act of faith. Within its walls, peace breathes like a silent prayer, light dances with the senses, colors seep into the soul, and the Way of the Cross restores order to the heart. It is an experience beyond words. Emotions to Generate Change.
If your path leads you to the French Riviera, pause in Vence, near Nice. After visiting Chagall’s Biblical Museum, immerse yourself in the beauty of this place, where great artists once lived and created. Take time to step into Matisse’s vision and let it speak to you.
When Friendship Becomes a Masterpiece of Art and Faith
In 1941, illness confined Henri Matisse to a hospital in Nice. At 71, he underwent a serious operation, emerging frail, in a wheelchair, in need of constant care. He considered his recovery nothing short of miraculous. By his side during the long nights was a young nurse, Monique Bourgeois. A deep friendship blossomed between them. She became his model, his muse, a presence of light in those dark days.
As the war raged, Monique fell ill and was cared for by the Dominican Sisters in Vence. Meanwhile, Matisse also sought refuge in Vence, escaping the bombings over Nice. In 1944, Monique felt the call to religious life and became Sister Jacques-Marie. When they met again in 1946, Matisse was profoundly moved to see her in her habit.
At the time, the Dominican Sisters prayed in a humble garage, a makeshift sanctuary in the aftermath of war. Sister Jacques-Marie sketched an idea for a chapel and showed it to Matisse. He was deeply touched and offered to design it himself. Over four years, he worked with Brother Couturier, while Sister Jacques-Marie oversaw the project. Finally, in 1952, the Chapel of the Rosary was inaugurated. Matisse passed away in 1954, and Sister Jacques-Marie, who lovingly cared for the chapel for decades, was laid to rest in Vence in 2005.
Matisse: The Chapel of the Rosary – Between Faith and Friendship
Entering the chapel feels like stepping into Easter itself. The play of light shifts with the hour, stretching the spirit beyond boundaries. Silence becomes a symphony played by the stained-glass. Black and white dissolve into pure color. The space seems vast, as though embracing the whole world—yet it measures only 15 meters in length, 6 in width, and 5 in height.
“I would like to add that I conceived the black and white of the Sisters’ habits as an essential element of the chapel’s composition.” – Matisse
Two walls are adorned with white tiles and bold black drawings: the Way of the Cross, the Madonna and Child, Saint Dominic. The remaining walls glow with vibrant stained-glass in three colors—lemon yellow, green, and ultramarine blue—forming Matisse’s interpretation of the Tree of Life, inspired by the resilient, spiny cactus of the Mediterranean coast.
The altar is the color of bread, and upon its cloth, Matisse’s drawings come to life, illuminated by the stained-glass reflections. Every detail—the cross, the candlestick, the kneeling bench, the confessional door, the holy water font—was crafted with intention, infused with meaning.
“I want those who enter my chapel to feel purified, relieved of their burdens.” – Matisse
The spirituality of the Stations of the Cross
The great Way of the Cross, laid out like an open book, is both an artistic and spiritual masterpiece. For years, during Lent, we have displayed its reproduction at home, using it for meditation in preparation for Easter.
The stations rise in movement, from the depths to the heights, like a great procession—a pilgrimage that culminates in the cross at the center. It tells the story of humanity’s suffering, gathered and redeemed in a single act of boundless love. Praying with Matisse’s Way of the Cross is a stripping away of excess, a journey toward the essential, a movement toward Resurrection.
“I have always sought to conceal my efforts; I have always wished my works to have the lightness and joy of spring, which never lets one suspect the labor it has cost.” – H. Matisse, 1948
Visitor’s Notes
The Chapel is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM and from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Entry fee: €7. For more details, visit the Chapel of the Rosary.official website.
