Visit museums dedicated to individual artists such as Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, Léger and Renoir
Enjoy an excursion to St Tropez, a favoured haunt of artists since the 1890s
Experience the work of leading 20th century artists in the peaceful hillside setting of the Fondation Maeght
"This was a well-balanced tour with lots of interesting places to visit. I learned a lot in a very easy way and thoroughly enjoyed it”
ACE customer on a 2025 Art on the Côte d’Azur tour led by Sarah Burles
From the late 19th century onwards, the vivid colours of the Côte d’Azur, as well as the region’s mild climate and dramatic landscapes, captivated a succession of Europe’s leading artists.
Following in Cézanne’s footsteps, Monet and Renoir both visited the south of France in the 1880s, while Signac famously sailed into St Tropez harbour in 1892 and stayed, later building a house and inviting other artists to join him. Matisse arrived in Nice in 1917, and it was not long before his friend and rival Picasso also journeyed to the Côte d’Azur.
During our week in Nice and its environs, we will consider what drew these and other artists to the south of France and explore the legacy they left in the region: from Matisse’s stunning Chapelle du Rosaire to Picasso’s work at the former Château Grimaldi in Antibes and Jean Cocteau’s ‘Salle des Mariages’ at Menton.
A number of these artists have museums dedicated to them, amongst which are the Musée Matisse, Musée Renoir, Musée National Fernand Léger and Musée Chagall. The latter is home to the twelve great paintings that make up the Biblical Message series, whilst the Musée Renoir offers an opportunity to visit the house of this great artist, where he spent the final decade of his life. It contains a number of his paintings and sculptures, and boasts beautiful views towards the sea.
The great strength of the Musée de l’Annonciade in St Tropez is the collection of works by Signac and the neo-Impressionists, Bonnard and the Nabis, and Matisse and the Fauves. Meanwhile, above the beautiful walled village of St Paul de Vence lies the Fondation Maeght, its pine-wooded grounds adorned with works by Giacometti, Calder and Miró. The Foundation possesses one of Europe’s most important collections of 20th century painting, drawing and sculpture: Braque, Chagall, Léger and Calder are all represented.
Through various walking tours of Nice, Menton and the port of St Tropez, we will take time to soak up the vibrant atmosphere, architecture and stunning vistas of the region that undoubtedly generated creative inspiration for these artists.
We will stay throughout the four-star Hôtel Beau Rivage, located in the Old Town of Nice. Our accommodation resonates closely with the content of our tour as Henri Matisse resided here when he first moved to the South of France in 1917. Enchanted by the quality of light, Matisse took the hotel as an inspiration and painted numerous interior scenes here. Today the hotel offers us modern and elegant interiors, and is well-located beside the Promenade des Anglais.
Sarah Burles
Sarah has a passion and enthusiasm for making art accessible, engaging and enjoyable, and runs tours, courses and online lectures. She is an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
This tour will be led by Sarah Burles, MA, who read History of Art at the University of Cambridge before studying for a Masters at University College London and going on to a career in museum and gallery education. This included 12 years at the Fitzwilliam Museum as well as work in other Cambridge museums. Sarah has a passion and enthusiasm for making art accessible, engaging and enjoyable, and runs tours, courses and online lectures. She is an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
8
£2995
ARC1-26
