Peggy Guggenheim Collection hosts major Jean Cocteau retrospective in Venice
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice is hosting the first significant Italian retrospective of Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), coinciding with the 60th Venice Biennale, which is curated by Adriano Pedrosa. The exhibition features over 150 pieces, encompassing paintings, drawings, and films. Cocteau, who was born on July 5, 1889, in Maisons-Laffitte, rose to prominence at the age of 18 with La Lampe d'Aladin. He collaborated on the libretto for Ballets Russes' Le Dieu bleu in 1912 and wrote Parade in 1917. Known for his ties to Symbolism, Cubism, and Surrealism, he published Le Livre Blanc in 1928 and directed films such as Le Sang d'un poète (1930). Cocteau passed away on October 11, 1963, and rests in Milly-la-Forêt.
Key facts
- First major Italian retrospective of Jean Cocteau at Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice
- Over 150 works including paintings, drawings, books, collages, tapestries, jewelry, films, documents, magazines, photographs
- Exhibition runs parallel to 60th Venice Biennale curated by Adriano Pedrosa
- Cocteau's first exhibition was at Guggenheim Jeune, London, in 1938
- Cocteau was born July 5, 1889, in Maisons-Laffitte, France
- He co-wrote Parade (1917) with Picasso, Satie, Apollinaire, a foundational Surrealist work
- Cocteau was elected to Académie Française in 1955; his sword was made by Cartier with gems from Coco Chanel
- He died October 11, 1963, buried in Chapelle Saint-Blaise des Simples, Milly-la-Forêt
Entities
Artists
- Jean Cocteau
- Walt Whitman
- Philippe Halsman
- Marcel Duchamp
- Pablo Picasso
- Erik Satie
- Guillaume Apollinaire
- André Gide
- Marcel Proust
- Francis Picabia
- Tristan Tzara
- André Breton
- Raymond Radiguet
- Coco Chanel
- Lee Miller
- Barbette
- Man Ray
- Jean Marais
- Arno Breker
- Roberto Rossellini
- Anna Magnani
- Adriano Pedrosa
- Stefano Piantini
Institutions
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Guggenheim Jeune
- Ballets Russes
- Académie Française
- Cartier
- Villa Santo Sospir
- Chapelle Saint-Pierre
- Chapelle Saint-Blaise des Simples
- Artribune
- Electa SpA
- Arnoldo Mondadori Arte
- Touring Club Italiano
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Maisons-Laffitte
- France
- Paris
- London
- United Kingdom
- rue de Cambon
- Montparnasse
- Cannes
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Menton
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Milly-la-Forêt
- Ebro River
- Delphi
- Thebes