Henri-Edmond Cross (Henri-Edmond Delacroix), The Artist's Garden at Saint-Clair

Short course

Modern art and the French Riviera

Weekend-long art history course

27 June 2020 10am - 5pm28 June 2020 10am - 5pm

Wolfson British Academy Room, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts

£420. Includes all materials, light refreshments and a wine reception at the end of day one.

Sold out

Terms and conditions

Among the high-end tourists that flocked to the South of France in the first half of the 20th century, were some of modern art's greatest painters, sculptors, designers and architects. This course will look at the French Riviera's role as a breeding ground for European modern art.

Due to the ongoing circumstances surrounding coronavirus, we regret to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel all events advertised for 2020 at this moment. If you have purchased tickets to an event, please contact us on 0207 300 8090 or tickets@royalacademy.org.uk and include your order number to arrange a refund. We aim to reply within 5 working days.

The South of France provided rebirth and renewal for a number of artists escaping Paris after both the First World War and the Second World War. The physical dislocation, the light of the Mediterranean and the glamorous bonhomie all provided an escape from wartime angst and the destruction seen across Northern Europe. The artists who flocked here saw themselves in the great French tradition, as the purveyors of classical utopias, and the French Riviera as a new Arcadia. Soon the South of France usurped the North as a centre for artistic expression and artistic communities. Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Chagall, Cocteau, Léger and Bonnard are just a few of the great masters who found inspiration along the French Riviera.

Over the course of the weekend, participants will learn about the many modern artists who lived and worked along the French coast in the first half of the twentieth century. We will explore how the landscapes and the Mediterranean shaped modernism. As well as the art produced, the course will look at the personalities and characters that contributed to the South of France’s artistic reputation as well as the temples to modern art that sprung up along the coast.

About the course leader: Dr Nicholas Watkins is a leading authority on French modernism. He has written numerous major monographs and exhibition catalogues on artists including Bonnard and Matisse.

Minimum age 18. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact academicprogrammes@royalacademy.org.uk.

£420. Includes all materials, light refreshments and a wine reception at the end of day one.

Sold out

Picasso and Paper

Go to the exhibition

Terms and conditions

Courses and classes at the Royal Academy

Our courses and classes programme

Our varied programme of short courses and classes provides an opportunity to explore subjects ranging from life drawing to the history of exhibitions and arts management, led by expert tutors and practising artists. These courses introduce traditional art-making processes, as well as perspectives on art history, theory and business.

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Give this course as a gift

All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact the Academic Programmes Team, by calling 020 7300 5641 or email academicprogrammes@royalacademy.org.uk