Great Lives – Henri Matisse

With London’s Tate Modern staging a six-month exhibition of Henri Matisse’s later work, BBC Radio 4 Extra looks back at the artist’s life.

Considering his remarkable life and legacy, it is astonishing that there was no biography of Henri Matisse until 1998, 44 years after his death. Hilary Spurling, the author of the first – and standard – profile joins with Matisse enthusiast Frank Delaney to look back at the artist’s prodigious and varied output.

In addition, they discuss the family scandals, adventures and misconceptions that followed Matisse throughout his life. There’s plenty to choose from, from his mother-in-law’s involvement in the notorious French fraud scandal – the Humbert Affair – to him being accused of being a Nazi collaborator. Presented by Humphrey Carpenter.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2001.

Publicity contact: BBC Radio 4 Extra Publicity