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A unique exhibition by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) brings together more than
110 works at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris and showcases the perspective of this
immense 20th-century artist on his daughter, Marguerite Duthuit-Matisse (1894-
1982).
The eldest of Matisse’s three children, Marguerite was born from the young painting
student’s brief relationship with his model Caroline Joblaud.
Recognized by her father, she grew up alongside Jean (1899-1976) and Pierre (1900-
1989), Matisse’s sons and his wife Amélie. The close-knit family lived in step with
their father’s work. From the age of seven, Marguerite was deprived of schooling due
to a first tracheotomy, the scar of which she concealed under a black ribbon, faithfully
depicted in her portraits.
A true «studio child,» discreet and attentive, she quickly became her father’s patient
and caring role model. From her early childhood until the end of the Second World
War, Marguerite became Matisse’s most consistent model, and her portraits betray a
vibrant emotion, reflecting the deep affection her father felt for her. Matisse found
in her a mirror of the soul and thus realized his profound aspiration for the «almost
complete identification of the painter and his model.» Her image permeated Matisse’s
work for decades.
Organized chronologically, the exhibition testifies to the strength of the bond between
the artist and his daughter. It allows visitors to grasp the immense trust and respect
they shared in one another. It also provides an opportunity to discover the fascinating
life story of an extraordinary woman who played a leading role in her father’s career.
Henri Matisse
The Moorish Screen
Nice, Place Charles-Félix, September 1921
Oil on canvas
91.9 x 74.3 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Lisa Norris Elkins Bequest, 1950
1950-92-9
Credit: Philadelphia Museum of Art