We are delighted that the Royal Academy has selected 15 of our original vintage travel posters for their major exhibition showing how the French Riviera inspired and supported the rise of modern art.
The Lure of the South: this exhibition includes an impressive collection of paintings by Cezanne, Monet, Picasso, Bonnard, Signac, Matisse and Klein among others, as well as our travel posters and a video of Le Train Bleu produced by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
From the 1870s, the azure seas and sapphire skies of the French Riviera beckoned artists, writers, intellectuals and aristocrats searching for an escape from their drab and crowded industrial cities. What they discovered was the landscape of their dreams – one that propelled the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and Modernists to new creative heights.
The story will come alive through more than 160 works, including paintings, sculpture, books, travel posters and film, from the 1870s to the 1960s.
These iconic travel posters helped establish the French Riviera’s reputation as a glamorous destination for sun, culture and leisure through eye-catching design typical of the era. The collection includes posters designed by Roger Broders, Pablo Picasso, Dudley Hardy, Dubois, Henri Matisse, Edmond Ceria, Roland Hugon, Starr, E. Paul Champseix, Roch, and Pierre Comba, all on display in Gallery 9.
Immerse yourself, just as these artists did, in a Mediterranean paradise at the Royal Academy from 2 October to 31 January.
The original vintage posters displayed in Gallery 9 are available to purchase through the Royal Academy. There is one available of each poster and they are sold in hand-finished frames with museum quality 70% UV anti-reflective glass.
Address: Main Galleries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J OBD. Click here to book your tickets for Painting the French Riviera (including Preview tickets for Friends of the RA on 29 September to 1 October). The exhibition catalogue is available to purchase at the RA Shop.
The opening reception was buzzing, and it was a joy to see our posters on display! 
It is so beautiful here...One swims in blue air. [Monet] 
The sea is...a colour entirely fantastic and incredible. [Matisse]
News & Reviews
"I have just been to a members' preview of this glorious exhibition ... there is an entire room of your posters, and a few books! I am planning a group visit and am sure our members will enjoy the exhibition as much as I did today."
"Loved Painting the French Riviera at the RA and need to go back again to savour the wonderful colours and atmosphere. AntikBar’s poster room transports to you to another glamorous light filled time and place..."
"Painting at the French Riviera is absolutely super and you have a whole room to yourselves, a 5 star show! Bought the catalogue book, it’s huge!"
"Last room of the Painting the French Riviera at the RA was packed with travel posters and film clips. There are other reasons to see this exhibition (Dufy!) but this finishing touch was delightful."
"This is the exhibition to conjure up memories and dreams, of holidays, of books we love, films and artists we adore, Painting the French Riviera is pure joy.... A finale of posters designed by names as famous as Picasso is testament to the enduring inspiration the French Riviera had, and still has... I will be going back to create more memories!"
"Congratulations on your recent exhibition of Riviera posters at the RA. That is a great way for new people to discover the beauty of vintage posters, and hopefully to welcome new collectors too."
"Such a treat to spend the afternoon at the Royal Academy of Arts. Cezanne at the start, some stunning Braque, Dufy, Matisse, a fabulous Picasso view, and a room full of gloriously sunny travel posters. I’ll definitely be going back. Don’t miss it especially once winter arrives in London."
"Outstanding exhibition, it's fabulous! One of the best RA shows."
"Glorious pictures on show at the Royal Academy. Impressionist artists gravitated south of Paris in the 1870s and for 100 years artists continued to be inspired by the Riviera in paint, print, poster and films. This will be a great show to visit in the depths of winter for a blast of sunshine and colour. But I want to go to the south of France right now!"
"Just got back from the RA stunned by your poster exhibit. I was surprised to walk through the Riviera exhibition and find that it was not the paintings, but the posters that grabbed my attention. Fantastic display. Congratulations."
We will feature more images, news and short reviews on this page during the exhibition; video clips will be posted on our YouTube channel. Follow us on social media (links below) for more images and videos, news and updates.
Visit our website for more French Riviera posters, including Nice, the Cote d'Azur and the SNCF French Railways, and posters featuring artwork by Picasso, Matisse, Broders and other notable artists — all our original vintage posters from around the world are available to view at our gallery and online (with worldwide delivery):
AntikBar – Original Vintage Posters
404 King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW10 0LJ
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AntikBar is a Member of the International Vintage Poster Dealers’ Association (IVPDA), the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (ABA), and The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (LAPADA).