French Artist Communities: The Fauves

Sat 21 Feb 2026, 11am–12pm
With Juliet Heslewood, author and art historian

This event takes place in-person at the Museum, and online via Zoom.

The last in a series of four talks examining four communities of French artists: The Barbizon school, the Painters of Pont Aven, Van Gogh and Gauguin in Arles, and The Fauves – the ‘Wild Beasts’ of the Mediterranean.

Just over a 100 years ago, St Tropez was a small fishing village on the Mediterranean, accessible only by boat. The painter Signac, who loved sailing, encouraged others to join him there.

When Matisse visited, he, like others, followed Signac’s Pointillist style but on reaching Collioure, further along the coast, he pursued his own ideas, struck by the brilliant sunlight and dared to use colour in a vibrant un-naturalistic way. He was joined by Derain who painted in a similar style that caused them to be called Fauves – wild beasts.

Together with others, they created a startling view of the coast that was innovative but well represented their unique experience of this popular part of the world.

There are four talks in this series: French Artist Communities.
Each talk needs to be booked separately:

Talk 1 – The Barbizon School – Sat 15 Nov 2025
Talk 2 – The Pont Aven Painters – Sat 13 Dec 2025
Talk 3 – Van Gogh & Gauguin – Sat 24 Jan 2026
Talk 4 – The Fauves – Sat 21 Feb 2026

The series is part of our Connect & Collaborate season of events.

Tickets are £8 each. Booking is essential