While searching out in depth the Grand Canal of Venice which, for that matter, is the ultimate tourist hotspot of the city, visitors can just as well make time to visit the elegant 18th century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. The palace was designed by Lorenzo Boschetti, a Venetian architect, and now is home to the valuable and much celebrated Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Peggy Guggenheim was an American art collector who lived her last 30 years of life in Venice. She bought the canal-side palace in 1949, and since then it has been hosting the personal fine art collection of the owner. The impressively comprehensive collection she put together is now deemed one of the finest contemporary art collections in the world.

Briefly put, the collection consists of pictorial and sculptural works by artists who made their way through in cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism, in both America and Europe. Thus, while admiring the exhibits, visitors can browse through works by Picasso (represented here by a work such as La Baignade), Dali, Brâncuşi, Magritte (with his stunning Empire of Light) and Pollock (the Academy is of special interest), Braque and Duchamp, Leger, Giacometti, Klee, Severini, Picabia, de Chirico, Mondrian, Kandinsky (one of his most valuable works referring to the Landscape with Church), Miro, Gorky, Calder and Max Ernst (the latter was also the husband of Peggy Guggenheim).

The artistic patrimony of the museum is complemented by the so-called Nasher Sculpture Garden (from where visitors can admire the meandering Grand Canal) and by a book shop (which also sells gifts) and a cafe located in the perimeter of the museum (the latter is home to sundry temporary exhibitions). The museum is managed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. One of its rooms showcases works by Pegeen Vail, daughter of Peggy Guggenheim.

Name:
Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Collezione Peggy Guggenheim)
Address:
704, Dorsoduro, 30123, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 2405411
Fax:
0039 041 5206885
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.guggenheim-venice.it
Opening hours:
daily (except Tuesdays): 10am to 6pm
Go to top