In 1949 the American millionairess Peggy Guggenheim came for the Venetian Biennale with her art collection, and soon decided to move to the city for good.
For her new home she has bought the former residence of Venetian aristocratic family Venier, known as Ca’Venier de Leoni, from the pet lion kept once on the courtyard of the building.
The palace is also known as ‘nonfinito’ ( unfinished ) as its construction has been stopped on the ground floor. After renovation Peggy Guggenheim has opened inside the private art gallery, which shortly before her death in 1979 has been commissioned the her uncle’s foundation of Salomon Guggenheim from New York, which at present takes care of the Venetian branch.
For the whole her life Peggy has been interested in modern art, opened several art galleries, which unfortunately did not survive during the hard times of World War Two.
Her friendship with many of abstract and surrealist artists, including marriage to Max Ernst influences the style of the items from her collection, which counts some 200 paintings and sculptures representing various artistic movements from the first half of the 20th century. The great names represented here include Picasso, Miro, de Chirico, Kandinsky and Mondrian.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Palazzo Vernier dei Leoni
Dorsoduro, Venice
opening hours:
10.00 – 18.00 ( Wed – Mon )
Guides: venice
