From Menton With Love: A Tribute To Jean Cocteau
Rudy Ricciotti designed Musée Jean Cocteau, situated in Menton, France. Image © Eric Duliere
A new contemporary museum is dedicated to the 20th century French artist whose works spanned film, drama, theatre, painting, novels and design.
By Shani Lynn Rogers on Tuesday 13th December, 2011
The seaside town of Menton held a special charm for Jean Cocteau, who first visited the area in the 50s, and his love was returned when the local council admiringly requested a large fresco in the Town Hall and he was subsequently made an honorary citizen. Menton’s dedication to the artist is long-standing as a new museum that bears the vision and spirit of the artist in its walls has opened this year.
The obscure labyrinth structure is the work of architect, Rudy Riccioti. It was designed to be eye-catching and be reminiscent of Cocteau’s artistic philosophies, yet blend in with the Mediterranean landscape. It's a fitting repository for a collection of more than 2000 of Cocteau’s works.
A large part of this comprehensive collection was donated by passionate art-lover Séverin Wunderman, who was an admirer of Cocteau from a young age and acquired his first collectible piece, a valued first drawing for 'Les Enfants Terribles', when he was 19 years old.
Wunderman already founded a museum dedicated to Cocteau in California in 1985, but sought for the works to return to their homeland. He was similarly enchanted by Menton, donating the collection to the town in 2005; however, he sadly passed away before he could witness the museum’s opening.
Due to Wunderman’s beneficence, there is an endless display of books, manuscripts, and poetry, as well as a marvel of drawings, prints, paintings, tapestries, ceramics and even jewellery. Visitors will be further enveloped by Cocteau’s genius through photography, audio and cinematic pieces.
The artist’s career was estabished via various themes, beginning in Chamber Theatre (1899-1911) and ending with Testaments (1949-1963). His life and character are also revealed through portraits and testimonials by fellow artists. Notably, Cocteau’s contemporaries also feature at the museum, including Picasso, Miró, Modigliani, De Chirico, and Foujita. Temporary exhibitions of contemporary work will also be hosted by the venue, in honour Cocteau's reputation as the father of contemporary art.
The museum stands as a monument to the brilliance of Jean Cocteau and the generosity of Séverin Wunderman, giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate his works enhanced by the beauty of Menton.
Musée Jean Cocteau Séverin Wunderman collection is located at 2 Quai Monléon, Menton, France.
