Tuesday, 20 September 2011

SDP on tour . .. Jean Cocteau in Menton

Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963) was a poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmaker. He often visited Menton in the 1950s, and in painted the salle des mariages (wedding room) in the Town Hall in 1958. He was quite taken with this small 17th century bastion and had it restored. He created a small museum there; it was inaugurated as a museum in his honour three years after he died.



The bastion was built in 1619 by Honoré II, Prince of Monaco, to defend the bay of Menton.
Belgian-born American collector Severin Wunderman decided to donate part of his art collection, which includes many by Cocteau, to Menton. The local council undertook to build a suitable museum, which is under construction now, at the foot of the old town, by the water, and near the bastion.. It includes also a collection on Sarah bernhardt and the theatre as well as modern paintings by artists such as Modigliani and Miro.





I think the museum is going to be quite spectacular, and look forward to being able to visit at some time in the future.



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4 comments:

  1. Ken Mac20 September, 2011 09:43

    great post

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  2. Jilly20 September, 2011 15:32

    Super informative post, Sally and super shots. The new museum has come on even more since you were here - I'll be posting pics when it's finished. Locals seems to be mixed in their feelings, most disliking it but I think they/we may be pleasantly surprised.

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  3. Justin Agar20 September, 2011 17:16

    Visiting this part of Sydney actually is really interesting. You will get to know the city's history as well as its culture.

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  4. nathalie, Avignon26 September, 2011 22:27

    I have mixed feelings about the new building at this stage but perhaps when it's finished?

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