This evening, Revd. Charles Miller, from St Helen’s Church, Abingdon, gave an illustrated talk about his new book, ‘The Spiritual Adventure of Henri Matisse: Vence’s Chapel of the Rosary’.

Matisse was a solitary artist known for defying conventional academic art. His work lacked any obvious religious themes.

In 1941, diagnosed with colon cancer, Matisse entered what he called his ‘second life.’ While hospitalised, under the care of Dominican nuns, the idea for the Chapel of the Rosary was born. A Dominican novice, along with two friars, became his spiritual guides for the chapel’s decoration. Matisse said, ‘For 50 years I worked relentlessly, never looking up…now I appreciate life in a completely new way.’

By 1948, Matisse said, ‘When I go to the Chapel, I have a feeling that my whole self is there – finally, all that is best in me.’

(Thanks to Mrs Backstreeter for this report. I was at the Abingdon Town Council annual Parish meeting and will type up that report tomorrow.)