Today is a bonus post. My Menton posts would not be complete without a mention of Jean Cocteau. One of the other reasons I went to Menton was because a new Cocteau museum had opened the week before I arrived. My timing for this post today couldn't have been better, as there was a full page article about the museum in the Herald Tribune and the New York Times yesterday.
Writer, artist, sculptor, poet, and filmmaker, Cocteau had a great affinity for Menton. In the 1950s he was commissioned by the city to create a series of public artworks including the Salle de Marriages (Marriage hall) for the city hall. So inspired by Menton, Cocteau later designed his own museum in an abandoned fortress on the water in the center of the city.
The new museum designed by Rudy Ricciotti looks striking against the azure blue sky with its white wings, loosely forming a labyrinth. It mostly houses the collection of Severin Wunderman, who formerly owned the Corum watch company from Switzerland. Wunderman owned the largest private collection of Cocteau's work and the museum has 2,000 works including 1,190 drawings, prints, paintings, ceramics, tapestries, jewelry, books and manuscripts. It also includes 172 photographs relating to Cocteau and 278 works by artists such as Picasso, Modigliani, and Di Chirico. Divided into seven themes, they explore the important phases of Cocteau's career including the play Les Enfants Terribles and Mysteries which features his films and poetry such as La Belle et la Bete.
Although the new museum had a comprehensive view of Cocteau and was more educational, I found Cocteau's spirit came through much more in his own small museum. The stone mosaics on the outside and his plates and amusing beachside paintings inside had such a simple charm to them.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
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