Modern Masters from the South of France

MODERN MASTERS FROM THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

MAÎTRES MODERNES DU SUD DE LA FRANCE

July 14 - 26, 2023

Open Monday to Sunday, mornings by appointment, and to the public between 2 pm and 7 pm 

La Bastide du Roy, 06600 Antibes, France

Art collection consultants Gismondi & Darmo are delighted to welcome you to the "Modern Masters from the South of France" exhibition at La Bastide du Roy, Antibes, from July 14 to 26. In this exceptional setting dating from the end of the 16th century, which has evolved to combine the past - the Bastide du Roy is a remarkable testimony to this - the present - with major events - and the future, Gismondi & Darmo presents the exhibition "Modern Masters from the South of France", in which the sensibilities of all the key artists who lived on the Côte d'Azur in the 20th century are brought together in dialogue. 

For this exhibition, Gismondi & Darmo is proud to collaborate with the Antoni Clavé estate and the Arman estate. In addition, previously unseen works will be on loan from major European collections by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Moïse Kisling, Fernand Léger, Sandoz and Nicolas de Staël. All the works will be displayed in the listed interiors and gardens of the Bastide du Roy.

 

The Exhibition

The exhibition brings together rare works - paintings, sculptures, works on paper, ceramics and prints - by artists such as Arman, César, Antoni Clavé, Moïse Kisling, Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso and Nicolas de Staël. Artists who have helped the entire region to gain international recognition for its artistic and cultural wealth.

The Artists 

Thanks to its sunny climate, picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the south of France has been home to some of the most important artists of the 20th century. Among them, Pablo Picasso is certainly one of the region's most emblematic artists. The Malagasy established close ties with the south of France, in particular with the towns of Mougins and Antibes, where he resided for many years. His presence in the region opened up new avenues of artistic expression and profoundly influenced the local art scene.

 

Joan Miró, for his part, was attracted to the region by his friendship with the Maeght family. Settling in Majorca, a Spanish island close to the French Mediterranean coast, he spent many long stays in Saint-Paul de Vence, painting and experimenting with new techniques in printmaking and ceramics. His unique artistic style, blending abstraction and poetic symbolism, has left a lasting imprint on the history of art.

 

Russian-born Nicolas de Staël also found refuge in the south of France. Attracted by the beauty of the coastal landscapes and Provençal villages, de Staël created figurative abstract works, capturing the essence of Provence and the Côte d'Azur.

 

Arman and César, two emblematic figures of the Nouvelle École de Paris, made a significant contribution to contemporary art by exploring new forms of expression. Their presence in the region has fostered international artistic exchanges.

Antoni Clavé, a multidisciplinary artist, was also seduced by the region's cultural richness and found the South of France an inexhaustible source of inspiration for his paintings, sculptures and engravings. 

Moïse Kisling, a painter of Polish origin, also left his mark on the South of France. His expressive, vibrant style, influenced by Fauvism and Impressionism, captured the beauty and unique atmosphere of the region.

 

The impact of these artists on the region's influence is undeniable. Their works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, drawing attention to the South of France as a home for artists and art lovers. Their presence has fostered the development of art schools, artist residencies and cultural festivals, contributing to the vitality and diversity of the local art scene.

Gismondi & Darmo

Alexis de Bernède and Marius Jacob-Gismondi are the founders of renowned European artist incubator Darmo, created in 2018 and showcasing emerging artists in exceptional international venues - France, Germany, Romania... Nevertheless, the two partners' main activity, although less well known to the general public, is art collection and cultural project consultancy Gismondi & Darmo. 

Gismondi & Darmo offers a tailor-made service to individuals, artists' estates and organizations wishing to build up an artistic heritage and raise their profile through artistic and cultural projects.

The firm has rapidly become a benchmark in the European art world, differentiating itself by its ability to serve not only leading European organizations and collections, but also a whole new generation of collectors thanks to its many ambitious international projects executed with institutional rigor.

The two entrepreneurs were the youngest artistic advisors to collaborate with major luxury brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo and Giambattista Valli, and to develop partnerships with world-renowned asset managers, family offices and private banks.

La Bastide du Roy

Dating back to the late 16th century, Henri IV purchased the Château d'Antibes and its fiefdom in 1604, and received the Bastide du Roy as a wedding gift in 1608. In 1924, the famous fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin bought La Bastide du Roy as a gift for her daughter, Countess Marie-Blanche Lanvin de Polignac, and her son-in-law, Count Jean de Polignac, a cousin of the princely family of Monaco. La Bastide du Roy has played host to many artistic personalities: Francis Poulenc, Jean Cocteau, Colette, François Mauriac. The artist and sculptor César also lived here for four years, alongside the antique dealer Jean Gismondi, who set his sights on the Bastide in 1989.