Ode To Matisse

  Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954)

Matisse he was an artist of the nineteenth century

He painted thoughts and feelings for all the world to see

Some said his work was ludicrous, not inspiring or smart

Some said he was a madman, this could never be called art.

He started off in pencils drawing pictures of still life

And then went on to portraits of his mistresses and wife

The artists there around him called their work Impressionist

But Matisse’s attempts at this were more inclined to Realist.

Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954)

Matisse he was an artist of the nineteenth century

He painted thoughts and feelings for all the world to see

Some said his work was ludicrous, not inspiring or smart

Some said he was a madman, this could never be called art.

He started off in pencils drawing pictures of still life

And then went on to portraits of his mistresses and wife

The artists there around him called their work Impressionist

But Matisse’s attempts at this were more inclined to Realist.

Then colour came into his life and all his world was light

The colour wheel became his form of choosing scarlets, blues and whites

His sights from every window were a blaze of colour hues

Though others couldn’t understand the way that he portrayed these views. 

And then the Blue Men came along with energy and dance

Their hands joined up in harmony, in ecstasy and trance.

Then Red Men with their naked limbs and mouths of gaping black

Matisse had changed his style and now there was no going back.

A benefactor paid him many thousands for his art

And though his health was failing, he had other things to start.

Icarus, a cut out of the god against the sun

Tortoise – a childlike way of showing how an image could be done.

When his life was almost over, Matisse was changed again

Was God behind this vision that produced the great design?

A sanctuary for the faithful of Dominican belief

Could such beauty that was made here have been created by Matisse ?

Perfect lines and perfect shapes in peaceful, tranquil blues

With light that played on marble forms on which the sun infused,

A madman or a genius – the question’s always there

Of creation that is made by man, no matter who or where.

Perhaps the insight comes from somewhere other than man’s mind

Perhaps one day we’ll know it, when the truth of life we find.

Then colour came into his life and all his world was light

The colour wheel became his form of choosing scarlets, blues and whites

His sights from every window were a blaze of colour hues

Though others couldn’t understand the way that he portrayed these views. 

And then the Blue Men came along with energy and dance

Their hands joined up in harmony, in ecstasy and trance.

Then Red Men with their naked limbs and mouths of gaping black

Matisse had changed his style and now there was no going back.

A benefactor paid him many thousands for his art

And though his health was failing, he had other things to start.

Icarus, a cut out of the god against the sun

Tortoise – a childlike way of showing how an image could be done.

When his life was almost over, Matisse was changed again

Was God behind this vision that produced the great design?

A sanctuary for the faithful of Dominican belief

Could such beauty that was made here have been created by Matisse ?

Perfect lines and perfect shapes in peaceful, tranquil blues

With light that played on marble forms on which the sun infused,

A madman or a genius – the question’s always there

Of creation that is made by man, no matter who or where.

Perhaps the insight comes from somewhere other than man’s mind

Perhaps one day we’ll know it, when the truth of life we find.

Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954)

Matisse he was an artist of the nineteenth century

He painted thoughts and feelings for all the world to see

Some said his work was ludicrous, not inspiring or smart

Some said he was a madman, this could never be called art.

He started off in pencils drawing pictures of still life

And then went on to portraits of his mistresses and wife

The artists there around him called their work Impressionist

But Matisse’s attempts at this were more inclined to Realist.

Then colour came into his life and all his world was light

The colour wheel became his form of choosing scarlets, blues and whites

His sights from every window were a blaze of colour hues

Though others couldn’t understand the way that he portrayed these views. 

And then the Blue Men came along with energy and dance

Their hands joined up in harmony, in ecstasy and trance.

Then Red Men with their naked limbs and mouths of gaping black

Matisse had changed his style and now there was no going back.

A benefactor paid him many thousands for his art

And though his health was failing, he had other things to start.

Icarus, a cut out of the god against the sun

Tortoise – a childlike way of showing how an image could be done.

When his life was almost over, Matisse was changed again

Was God behind this vision that produced the great design?

A sanctuary for the faithful of Dominican belief

Could such beauty that was made here have been created by Matisse ?

Perfect lines and perfect shapes in peaceful, tranquil blues

With light that played on marble forms on which the sun infused,

A madman or a genius – the question’s always there

Of creation that is made by man, no matter who or where.

Perhaps the insight comes from somewhere other than man’s mind

Perhaps one day we’ll know it, when the truth of life we find.

Dance Snail Interior Landscape