Henri Matisse (1869-1954), regarded as one of the most important French painters of the 20th century, is known for his bold use of color. Matisse began his career as an artist painting in the style of the Impressionists. After careful study of Postimpressionist masters like Gauguin and van Gogh, he became the leader of the Fauvist movement, a group of artists who painted from nature, as the Impressionists did, replacing their pastel palette with pure, brilliant color. Matisse continued to create art until his last days, constructing collages of brightly colored paper cutouts when he was too weak to stand at an easel. A number of works by the artist can be seen throughout France, including the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence.
