A century after French painter Maurice Denis was honored with an entire room at the 1925 Nice Fine Arts Society exhibition, the artist is once again being celebrated at the Chéret Museum in Nice. The current exhibition, titled 'The Brilliance of the South,' offers visitors an intimate look at Denis' artistic journeys through the French Riviera region and will run through March 8, 2026.
The exhibition's origins trace back to 2019, when Johanne Lindskog arrived as the new director of the Chéret Museum and discovered 'The Prayer,' a Maurice Denis painting in the museum's collection. After consulting the archives, she conceived the idea of bringing this renowned artist back into the spotlight. In 1925, the Fine Arts Society of Nice had presented 43 of Denis' works at their 31st salon, held at the Baudran Palace on Victor-Hugo Boulevard. This retrospective celebrated the artist who was approaching his 55th birthday, at the height of his fame and supported by several patrons following World War I.
Today, half of those original paintings, many of which had been dispersed and some lost entirely, are now displayed at the Chéret Museum. The exhibition offers a fresh perspective on Denis' career, moving beyond the typical focus on his role as founder of the Nabi movement, his religious paintings featuring numerous annunciation scenes, or his connection to Brittany and Perros-Guirec. Instead, 'The Brilliance of the South' examines his work through a specific decade – the 1920s – and a particular region – the South of France. Co-curator Jeanne Pilon, who is responsible for exhibitions at the Nice Fine Arts, collaborated with Lindskog to present these alternative angles on the artist's legacy.
The Nabi movement, formed in 1888 at the Julian Academy in Paris, consisted of Paul Sérusier, Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard, Ker-Xavier Roussel, and Paul-Élie Ranson. These disciples of Gauguin, who were symbolists drawn to esotericism, advocated for a return to imagination and subjectivity. The word 'Nabi' means 'prophet' in Hebrew.
Denis made three significant trips to the South of France during his lifetime. His first journey occurred in 1906, when he traveled to Aix-en-Provence and waited outside a church, hoping to meet the legendary Paul Cézanne. His patience paid off when the master invited him to his home. Denis then embarked on a bicycle journey from Marseille to Bordighera, Italy, making stops in Sanary, Bandol, Toulon, Cavalaire, Agay, Antibes, and Nice. These locations provided numerous opportunities to connect with fellow artists, including meetings with Paul Signac in Saint-Tropez and Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
The Mediterranean landscape deeply inspired Denis during his travels. The orderly rows of cypress trees, the splendor of mimosa blooms, and the delicate beauty of umbrella pines captured his imagination, as did the wild beauty of Cap d'Antibes and the Baou de Saint-Jeannet during his subsequent visits in 1913 and 1922. During each trip, he would sketch in his notebooks before returning to his studio to create finished works. One notable painting, 'Nausicaa: The Ball Game,' demonstrates his ability to blend mythology with contemporary scenes, depicting an episode from Homer's Odyssey through an elegant tennis match between two women, with the heights of Cagnes visible in the background.
The artist's 1922 return to the Côte d'Azur held special significance as it coincided with personal renewal in his life. In 1919, Denis had lost Marthe, the mother of his six children, and had begun constructing a chapel in his home where his deceased wife was depicted as a saint. Three years later, he returned to the French Riviera on his honeymoon with his second wife, Elisabeth, who had previously taught music to Bernadette, one of Denis' daughters.
During this romantic period, several sites once again captured Denis' artistic attention. His painting of the Saint-Cassien chapel in Cannes shows the building bathed in the delicate light of a winter evening. The newlywed couple stayed for three weeks in an annex of the Hotel de l'Ilette in Antibes, where Denis focused his artistic eye both on the oratory of the Garoupe sanctuary and on Elisabeth's generous forms as she posed by a window overlooking the old town, wearing a pink dress that slipped off one shoulder.
'He was absolutely enchanted by his new wife and constantly showcased her charms and the sensuality of her body, even representing her in three aspects, perhaps referencing the Three Graces,' explains Jeanne Pilon. 'This period marked a renewal in his life, both personal and artistic.'
The exhibition is housed at the Nice Fine Arts Museum, located at 33 Avenue des Baumettes. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is 10 euros, with free entry for visitors under 18 and residents of the Métropole. Additional information is available on the museum's official website.
