Matisse in the Barnes Foundation is a vibrant and beautifully produced celebration of the 59 extraordinary works by Matisse in the Barnes collection. These span the artist's career and include his two most historically significant paintings: Le Bonheur de vivre, the work that made his reputation, and the monumental Dance mural commissioned by Albert C. Barnes, which transformed the Foundation's Main Gallery and the artist's career.

An essay by distinguished art historian Yve-Alain Bois, the book's editor, addresses the evolution of The Dance and its place in Matisse's oeuvre. Karen Butler examines Barnes's opinion of Matisse, and Claudine Grammont considers how and why Barnes collected the artist's work. In the catalogue section, Matisse's works are sumptuously reproduced and discussed in depth. The book includes major contributions by conservator Barbara Buckley and conservation scientist Jennifer Mass on the artist's technique and the latest findings on the pigments used in Le Bonheur de vivre, as well as the full exchange of correspondence between Barnes and Matisse concerning The Dance commission. All documentary photographs showing the different states of The Dance are published together for the first time.

Hardcover, 894 pages with 656 illustrations. 3 volumes in a slipcase. Measures 10 × 13 inches.

Awards

• Type Directors Club (TDC) 2016 Communications Design Award
• Designers and Art Directors highest award for books: Silver (2016)
• Frances Smyth-Ravenel Prize for Excellence in Publication Design (2016)
• Best-in-show award of the American Alliance of Museums (2016)
• AIGA's 50 Books/50 Covers

A note on shipping: This set of three volumes weighs nearly 19 pounds--we understand that it may be expensive to ship to certain destinations. If you are in the Philadelphia area and prefer to pick it up, you may choose that option during checkout.