In the hills above the very charming medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence is the Fondation Maeght. If you come to the south of France/the Côte d'Azur and the Fondation is not on your itinerary...have a rethink. The Fondation Maeght is one of those rare places where the setting is inseparable from the art itself.
Opened in 1964, the Fondation was created by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght, major names in the art world at the time. Their circle included some of the defining artists of the 20th century: Braque, Miró, Chagall, Giacometti, Chagall, Calder, Léger. This was the first private art foundation in France.
The Fondation Maeght was never intended to feel like a museum. Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert designed the Fondation in collaboration with the artists themselves. The gardens were woven around the works of art that would fill them.The built space - white walls, brick, terracotta, courtyards were all envisioned in this same way.
Some of the most important works at the foundation were made specifically for this place. Giacometti chose the position for his elongated figures on the terrace that bears his name. Miró's garden labyrinth is series of monumental sculptures.
The collection itself is formidable - 13,000 works. The experience itself, though, is what makes it so special. From the bright Mediterranean light, to the pine trees that shade impressive sculptures to the fountains and rooftop terraces overlooking some of the most beautiful terrain in the world.
Fondation Meaght is art that lives in its landscape.
