Matisse, His Art and His Textiles: The Fabric of Dreams

Textiles were a primary source of inspiration to Matisse throughout his life. His collection of fabrics, carpets and costumes, packed away unseen for half a century, will provide the core - and revelation - of this exhibition. These textiles, collected from all over the world, provided the springboard for the densely patterned, richly coloured paintings that came to encapsulate his unique style. They would appear as outfits draped over models, or as backdrops behind them becoming part of the actual fabrics of his painting. This theatrical and visually exciting installation will display a selection of fabrics and costumes owned by Mattise with some 65 of his paintings, prints and drawings.