Palazzo Venier dei Leoni is the historical residence of Peggy Guggheneim, the New Yorker born artists’ mecenate. The palace is located in Venice, facing on the Gran Canal. She bought it after the end of Second World War, when she was looking for a place to establish her modern art exhibition. She first exposed her collection at the Biennale of Venice in 1948, and then decided to go living in Venice in
her new residence. From 1951 she officially opened her art collection to the general public. Peggy’s uncle was nothing but the famous Salomon Guggheneim, the founder of the Guggheneim collection in New York. After her exhibitions in Venice he officially invited her back to New York exposing at his museum, in the celebre Frank Lloyd’s spiral structure in the 5th Avenue. And that’s doing this that Peggy really started her art mecenate’s career. When Peggy died in 1979, her palace on the Gran Canal was transformed into a charming small art museum by the Guggenheim foundation. Nowadays, Peggy’s museum is one of the most famous modern art museums in the world.
A house of art
The structure of the museum keeps the original house’s one, exposing paintings of famous artists like Picasso and Magritte all around the walls of the palace. The exposition isn’t too big and time consuming. It is very pleasant to walk into the house’s rooms and admire all the historical artists’ paintings and real Peggy’s life pictures. Moreover the palace offers an incredible view on the Gran Canal from the external terrace. A particular fact regarding the house, is that Peggy herself is buried in the internal garden, next to her beloved dogs. In the main patio you can see a grave on the wall with all the funny and strange names of all her dogs. It is very interesting indeed.
Museum’s collateral events
Nowadays the museum is also a popular location for special events, like the summer Aperol Spritz museum nights. In these occasions, the museum opens its doors at night, and you can have a tour of the palace enjoying a drink in the garden and eating from a nice offered buffet. Generally there is also a dj playing, and the museum assumes a complete new allure. It is an event that is very appreciated by university students and young people in Venice. If you are an art lover and like Aperol Spritz, you really can’t miss it!
