Henri Matisse designed the stained-glass window called the Tree of Life at the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence.
The Chapel of the Rosary, completed in 1951, was created by Matisse in collaboration with the Dominican nun Monique Bourgeois, later Sister Jacques-Marie. Matisse designed the architecture, decoration, furnishings, vestments, and works of art for the small chapel.
The stained glass uses strong blocks of blue, green, and yellow. The Tree of Life window is paired with the chapel’s white ceramic wall designs and helps create the carefully controlled color harmony Matisse wanted.
The chapel is often called the Matisse Chapel, but the stained glass should not be confused with his paper cut-outs or with the work of other modern artists in French churches. Its designs belong to a complete architectural environment rather than an isolated window commission.