Major exhibition of Matisse coming to Rome in March

The profound influence of Arabesque decorative motifs in the work of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is explored in a major upcoming exhibition at Rome's Scuderie del Quirinale.

Eastern and oriental designs brought about a radical change in the paintings and drawings of the French artist who developed a bold new spatial awareness and embraced the use of flat, vibrant colours and shapes.

The exhibition features around 100 paintings, drawings and theatre costumes. The exhibited works include loans from some of the most important museums in Europe, Russia and the US.