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Choose Sorrow of the King as a hand painted oil painting and skip the compromise of printed wall decor. Based on Henri Matisse's original. Our artists rebuild the fine art composition stroke by stroke, producing fauvist canvas wall art with lasting color depth.
1952
The Sorrows of the King was Matisse's final self portrait. This work refers to one of Rembrandt's paintings, David Playing the Harp before Saul, in which the young biblical hero plays to distract the king from his melancholy, as well as to Rembrandt's late self portraits. Here Matisse depicts the themes of old age, of looking back towards earlier life (La vie antérieure, the title of a poem by Baudelaire that Matisse had already illustrated) and of music soothing all cares.
Matisse has represented himself by the central black form, like a silhouette of himself sitting in his armchair, surrounded by the pleasures that have enriched his life. He has combined a number of recurring themes from his life. The yellow petals fluttering away have the gaiety of musical notation while the green odalisque symbolizes the Orient and a dancer pays homage to the female body and sensuousness.
Matisse's Sorrow of the King is an influential piece from near the end of his life. Many critics consider this to be his most innovative period. He had begun to experience severe arthritis and had a bout with cancer which forced him to be confined in a wheelchair. Instead of having his artistic talent dry up in the face of these challenges, Matisse was determined that he would keep doing his life's work as an artist. He could no longer stand to paint, so instead he created paintings with scissors by cutting pieces of colorful paper and gluing them onto larger pieces of paper with the help of his assistants. They were called 'gouaches découpés.' Sorrow of the King is a fine example of this style, with its use of stunning colors and shapes to create a scene
Collectors often choose this fine art image when searching for fine art oil painting that feels substantial rather than decorative or disposable.
Oil on canvas remains the reference standard for fauvist reproductions. Our artists apply pigment by hand, blending the fine art tones directly on the surface for depth that a printed fine art oil painting simply cannot match.
fauvist canvas wall art is one of the easiest ways to warm a gallery wall. Pair this piece with natural linen, dark wood, or brushed brass, and let the hand painted surface do the rest.
Browse our Henri Matisse Paintings selection for related fine art canvases, or commission this fine art image in a custom size. Every order is a hand painted oil painting, never a printed poster.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 24 in | $47.98 |
| 24 X 36 in | $77.98 |
| 30 X 40 in | $104.48 |
| 36 X 48 in | $149.48 |
| 48 X 72 in | $291.98 |
The sizes shown are the reproduction canvas sizes we paint to order. The dimensions given in a work's description refer to the original artwork and will differ from the sizes offered here. Not sure? Read the size guide or e-mail us.
Free on orders over $60; a flat $5 below that. Dispatched in 1–2 business days; 30 days to send it back. Full policy.
Every canvas is painted by hand in oils on artist-grade stretched canvas, with an extra blank border left for framing. How to care for your painting.
Measurements are on the size guide, or e-mail [email protected] and we reply within one business day.
