The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice

K and I have spent several memorable afternoons in Venice at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Less well known than MOMA in New York, the Tate in London, and Centre Pompidou in Paris, it is arguably one of the most important museums of 20th century European and American art.

It is located in Peggy Guggenheim’s former home, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand Canal.

When you are in the museum, inundated with so many fantastic pieces by the world’s greatest modern artists, it is hard to imagine that this was Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection. And besides her fabulous collection, the museum offers masterpieces from other collections. And a sculpture garden. And regular temporary exhibitions.

Some highlights of the core collection: 

* “The Red Tower” (De Chirico)

* “The Clarinet” (Braque)

* “Study of a Nude” and “Men in the City” (Leger)

* “Very Rare Picture on the Earth” (Picabia)

* “Birth of Liquid Desires” (Dali)

* “Bird in Space” (Brancusi)

* “The Kiss” (Ernst)

* “Woman Walking” (Giacometti)

* “Landscape with Red Spots” (Kandinsky)

* “Magic Garden” (Klee)

* “Empire of Light” (Magritte)

* “Composition No. 1” (Mondrian)

* “Arc of Petals” (Calder)

* “The Moon Woman” (Pollock)