Artist DNA: Ingres, Cezanne, Pissarro and Matisse
Paul Cezanne, "The-Blue-Vase" 1889
Matisse recalling a visit to the Salon des Independants with Pissarro, “I can still hear old father Pissarro exclaiming at the Independants, in front of a very beautiful still life by Cezanne, representing a blue water pot in fluted glass in the style of Neopoleon III, a harmony in blue, ‘It’s so like Ingres!’ Once I got over my surprise, I found — and I still find — that he was right.” The painting gave birth to Matisse’s painting, “The Blue Window.” [Hilary Spurling, "The Unknown Matisse"]
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, "Princesse Albert de Broglie"
Henri Matisse, "The BLue Window"
While Hilary Spurling believes that the quote is referring to Cezanne’s “The Blue Vase”, I believe that since it is described as being in the style of Napoleon III, Matisse is referring instead to this painting of a vase of flowers. The relationship to Ingres seems more obvious, too.
Cezanne, "Vase of Flowers"
Books of Interest:
Or order from your local independent books seller. Mine is Battenkill Books. Find the independent bookstore closest to you at IndieBound.org
Leslie, every time I see a Matisse painting, I just let it envelope me. I do believe he may have been the greatest painter of them all. His sense of color and space leave me humbled. You should post his “The Red Studio”. It’s Marcus Rothkowitz’s and my favorite painting.
Joe, I agree.