Textiles were a primary source of inspiration to Matisse throughout his life. His collection of fabrics, carpets and costumes, packed away unseen for half a century since his death, will provide the core - and revelation - of this exhibition. Brought up in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, a textile town famous for its luxury fabrics, Matisse grew up surrounded by shimmering cloths. He started collecting fabrics himself from a young age, going on to create an extraordinary collection of textiles from all over the world, from French toile de Jouy, to Persian carpets, African wall-hangings and Arab embroideries. He referred to this collection as his 'working library', which provided the springboard for the densely patterned, richly coloured paintings that came to encapsulate his unique style. They would appear as outfits draped over models, or as backdrops behind them, becoming part of the actual fabric of his painting. This theatrical and visually exciting installation will juxtapose a selection of the fabrics and costumes owned by Matisse with some 65 of his paintings, prints and drawings. Reflecting the colours, patterns and textures of the fabrics, it will offer a unique insight into the way Matisse's visual imagination was fired.
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