Cocteau and Menton
Jean Cocteau, prolific French writer, poet, artist and filmmaker, is known for his artistic versatility and influence on 20th-century French culture. He had a special bond with the town of Menton, located on the Côte d'Azur.
----
During the 1950s, Cocteau discovered Menton and was immediately seduced by the beauty of the region. He soon became a regular visitor to the town, often spending his winters there, particularly in the “Villa Santo Sospir”, which he named after the murmurs he heard in the house.
The Villa Santo Sospir has become an emblematic place in Cocteau's life and work. He transformed the villa's interior into a veritable artistic masterpiece, covering the walls with frescoes and drawings (even the cupboard doors).
Used as a vacation home before his arrival, the villa's walls had been left empty. Once settled in, Jean Cocteau would soon say: “I'm tired of idleness, I'm parched in it....”. So he asked his girlfriend, who owned the property at the time, if he could draw the head of Apollo above the living-room fireplace in charcoal. And gradually all the walls were drawn...
---
These works of art include depictions of mythological figures, marine scenes and portraits of friends such as Pablo Picasso.
Cocteau was also very involved in Menton's cultural life, taking part in several local events and even carrying out artistic projects, including sets for plays and art exhibitions.Shortly after “pimping” the Villa Santo Sospir, he worked on frescoes for the Chapelle St Pierre in Villefranche, which he donated to the fishermen, and the wedding hall at Menton town hall.
