Credited as a definitive influence over modern visual art with his vivid colors and fluid style, Henri Matisse spent a decade of his life in this stunning apartment overlooking the Bay of Angels.
Priced at almost $2.7 Million, Matisse’s Matisse’s former apartment is located in the former Régina Hotel and Residence, sitting in the high-end neighborhood of Cimiez, Nice. The Régina Hotel and Residence was constructed in 1897, and Matisse occupied one of the highest floors of the building. Comprised of two bedrooms and four bathrooms across 1,700 square feet, the property is also credited to have hosted the painter’s studio. At the courtesy of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty, JamesEdition delves into the property that housed an artistic legend.
Nice through the eyes of Matisse
The crowning jewel of this apartment is the large windows ad glass exposures in the great room, which remain the original fixtures from Matisse’s time. With four balconies and one bow window, this backdrop is documented in a photograph starring Matisse in 1938.
Carefully renovated to live up to these impressive standards, other gems include the spacious, well-lit living and dining area, a modern kitchen connected to a balcony and seating area, and a formal entrance. With a private balcony and marble-floored bathroom with a soaking tub, the primary bedroom also features exceptional views of Nice and the Bay of Angels.
Throughout the apartment, herringbone wood floors and shuttered windows give the impression of excellence.
Brimming with history and culture, the opulent features of the Régina don’t stop with exceptional entertainment spaces and a grand lobby but continue into the double garage, swimming pool, park, tennis court, playground, gym, cellar, and full-time caretaker. The carefully landscaped grounds and Belle Époque-style architecture embody traditional European luxury and immerse all visitors in the golden eras of the past.
The Height of Luxury in the French Riviera
Renowned as one of the most coveted spots on the French Riviera, Nice is up amongst front runners such as Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, and St. Tropez. It is no surprise, therefore, to learn that Nice was particularly influential on Matisse throughout his life and up until his death in 1954. The city itself features a permanent museum dedicated to the artist, called the Musée Matisse, which houses a permanent collection of his works.
The Régina itself is no stranger to seminal individuals, built as a luxury hotel for royals and dignitaries seeking a suitable place to stay whilst in the city. Having hosted exceptional names such as Queen Victoria of England, Winston Churchill, Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, and Leopold II of Belgium.
Famous for collecting objects from around the world which he stored throughout his home, Matisse chose one of such rooms to use as his studio. Such collections were the inspiration for “Matisse in the Studio”, an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2017. Françoise Gilot, muse and lover of Pablo Picasso, Matisse’s rival, said of the apartment: “It was interesting to see that he lived the way he painted — When you entered the house, you were in his universe”.
To enquire further about this incredibly historic apartment, contact Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty today.
