Those who follow us for some time or are passionate about art will certainly know that in Venice one of the most important collections of modern art in the world is preserved, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, housed in the splendid Cà Venier dei Leoni.
What is hidden behind these works of art is the life of one of the most singular inhabitants of Venice: Marguerite “Peggy” Guggenheim.
The story of Peggy Guggenheim, the origins
Peggy was born in New York in 1898 into a very rich family. Her father Benjamin died prematurely in the famous shipwreck of the Titanic, leaving the twenty-one Marguerite a sum of money that today would be worth 34.5 million dollars.
The art breaks into his life at a young age, as her grandfather Salomon was a famous collector, and Peggy barely an adult decided to join the staff of the library Sunwise Turn. Despite her mother’s disapproval of her lifestyle, Peggy continues to follow this path stubbornly and in 1922 moves to Paris where he meets artists such as Man Ray, Constantin Brâncuşi and Marcel Duchamp.
The history of Peggy Guggenheim, Venice
During World War II Peggy is forced to return to New York reluctantly, the Nazi persecution could hit her if she decided to stay.
In 1948 she returned to Venice and bought Palazzo Cà Venier dei Leoni, once home to another eccentric woman: Countess Luisa Casati.
Cà Venier is a never-finished building that overlooks the Grand Canal, the entire building is on one floor, an unusual feature for the architecture of Venice.
This extravagance must have particularly impressed Peggy who decides to immediately move her canvases and sculptures into the spaces of the new house. Even today, walking through the rooms of the collection, you can admire the objects and the works of which she loved to surround herself.
In the quiet garden Peggy loved to devote herself to another activity, many photos in fact show her next to her beloved Lhasa Apsos, to whom he had given names like Cappuccino or Hong Kong.
The story of Peggy Guggenheim, the collection
Peggy dies in the hospital of Camposanpiero, near Padua, in 1979 and decides to make her home a point of reference for the art of the whole world.
She donates her collection and the palace to the Solomon Guggenheim Collection, an inestimable legacy that can still be admired today by booking a visit. Visitors from all over the world crowd every day in front of the iron and glass gate of the Guggenheim house to admire these unique pieces up close. If you want to try this exciting experience, we suggest you book a visit immediately, this site will allow you to have priority access and skip all the queues.
You can visit the rooms of Peggy’s house and see the world with her own eyes, surrounded by the beauty of the works of art by Jackson Pollock, René Magritte, Pablo Picasso and more. Don’t forget to tell us your impressions in the comments!
