Visit Guggenheim Foundation in Venice is one of the city's largest museums.
It would be a shame to miss your visit here.
Today, I'd like to tell you more about this museum.
Guggenheim Foundation in Venice: article summary
- The Guggenheim Foundation in Venice: at a glance
- Why did Peggy Guggenheim decide to settle in Venice?
- Which painting is most representative of Peggy Guggenheim's life?
- What are the secrets behind "Alchemy", one of the Foundation's most mysterious paintings?
- What are the opening hours?
- How much does admission cost?
The Guggenheim Foundation in Venice: at a glance
The Peggy Guggenheim Museum on the Grand Canal (Neighborhood Dorsoduro) is undoubtedly a must-see. The Guggenheim Collection, housed in the 18thᵉ century palazzo Ca' Venier dei Leoni, is in fact one of the most visited Venetian museums, with a collection encompassing a wide range of genres, from surrealism to cubism and abstract expressionism.
It is also where Peggy Guggenheim stored the works she collected. Finally, the museum is also known as the place where she lived from 1949 until 1979, when she died.
Why did Peggy Guggenheim decide to settle in Venice?
In 1942, Peggy opened a gallery in New York called "Art of This Century", focusing on her collection of Surrealist, Cubist and Abstract artists, temporary exhibitions of leading European artists and the promotion of young American artists such as Rothko, Hare, Pollock and many others.
However, Peggy had always loved Europe. She loved "The Old Continent" and knew it was only a matter of time before she got there. Once the war was over, she was able to realize her dream. Always drawn to Venice, she felt that she could enjoy a kind of happy solitude in a city where nothing can be normal. A perfect place to settle down.
Which painting is most representative of Peggy Guggenheim's life?
One of the most representative paintings is certainly a masterpiece by Max Ernst. One example is his famous "Tenue de la mariée", painted in 1940. The surrealist painter was Peggy Guggenheim's second husband. Peggy and Max married in 1941, after fleeing from France to the United States, although it is generally thought that the figure in this painting was Max Ernst's lover, Leonora Carrington.
Every work in the Guggenheim collection, from Mondrian to Chagall, Brancusi, Pollock, Picasso, De Chirico, Magritte, Fontana, Kandinsky and many others, tells us a great deal about Peggy's life. However, so great was her commitment and dedication to art, that she remains known as one of the city's greatest artistic figures.
What are the secrets behind "Alchemy", one of the Foundation's most mysterious paintings?
"Alchemy" was Pollock's first painting, in 1947, using an innovative technique known as "dripping". Restoration took a year. It was carried out by the "Opificio delle Pietre dure" in Florence. Luciano Pensabene, Peggy Guggenheim's curator, was the coordinator of the studies and was responsible for the restoration. cleaned the board with his team.
Many unknown details were revealed during this restoration work. The process itself was extensively documented at the exhibition held in 2015. On site, you could access videos, 3D reproductions, touch screens, interactive kiosks, enriched with original documentation and Pollock elements.
Before restoration, the painting's overall appearance was grayish. However, the the team of experts brought 19 color palettes back to life different, they also discovered that Alchemy is not a painting on canvas, as it was created by assembling a tablecloth on Pollock's mother's loom.
In the meantime, microscopic analysis has revealed that the dripping technique is anything but "casual": Pollock didn't drip colors onto the surface almost at random, because certain counterpoints and symmetries can't be achieved without some kind of planning.
What are the opening hours?
You can also visit the Guggenheim Foundation in Venice:
- Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How much does admission cost?
To visit the site, you will need :
- 16 € per adult
- 9 € for under-25s
- free for children under 10
The Guggenheim Foundation in Venice is one of the museums not to be missed during your visit to Venice. Here, you'll discover numerous works by different masters who left their mark on their era. Enough to make a journey through time and art.
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