Maeght Foundation since 1964
Since its creation in 1964, near Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the Maeght Foundation has been a leading centre for art.
Founded by the renowned Cannes art dealers and collectors Marguerite and Aimé Maeght, it benefited from the support of André Malraux, then Minister of Culture.
Dedicated to celebrating modern and contemporary art, the Maeght Foundation boasts an extraordinary collection, the fruit of decades of work. Among its treasures are works by some of the most influential artists of the 20th century, whose creations adorn the institution’s rooms and galleries.
What distinguishes the Maeght Foundation is not only the quality of its collection, but also the special relationship it maintains with artists. Many of these iconic figures were indeed closely involved in the design and layout of the foundation’s building, creating artworks and sculptures specifically conceived for the spaces they would occupy.
The great artists of the 20th century at the Maeght Foundation
Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Mediterranean countryside, in the hills above Nice, the Maeght Foundation’s rich artistic program attracts visitors from all around the world.
Upon entering its gardens, a collection of sculptures greets you, beginning with the iconic Homme Vert – Green Man and his companions, whose whimsical forms often provoke thought.
One of the highlights of the Foundation’s open-air exhibitions is the courtyard dedicated to the Swiss sculptor, painter, and engraver Alberto Giacometti. Aimé Maeght, endowed with an exceptional flair for talent, represented Giacometti for much of his career, championing his work and forging a lasting artist-patron partnership.
Giacometti’s work, characterised by its surrealist aesthetic and strikingly expressive figures, can elicit a range of reactions from visitors. Some are impressed by the depth and emotional intensity of his creations, while others are troubled by the austere and tormented faces that populate his sculptures and paintings.
Nevertheless, Giacometti’s artistic legacy transcends these subjective assessments, as evidenced by the extraordinary success of his masterpiece, L’Homme qui Marche – Walking Man, which shattered auction records by fetching the astronomical sum of $104.3 million at Sotheby’s in London in 2010.
Department of Alpes-Maritimes – St Paul de Vence
Coordinates: Lat 43.700834 – Long 7.114945
Credits: Photos are ©melangedmagic – Evelyn Jackson – Photo Wikimedia Commons: Header by Waterborough CC BY-SA 3.0
