Peggy Guggenheim was once walking back to her art-filled Venetian palazzo with her friend John Malcolm Brinnin. Per Brinnin's memoir, they stopped to rest just steps from the door. They were approached by a "disheveled couple in a hurry," neither of whom recognized Guggenheim. The man inquired, “Pardon me, ma’am. How do we get to this Guggenheim museum of art?” Without disclosing her identity, she replied, “Straight ahead. You can see the gate from here.”
The gate in question was the work of Venice resident Claire Falkenstein. Only, the Venice Claire Falkenstein called home was half a world away. She lived in Venice, California. In the copy of The Peggy Guggenheim Collection of Modern Art that Guggenheim signed to Falkenstein, she makes note of this connection. That copy is currently for sale via the Nick Harvill Libraries store.
The gate in question was the work of Venice resident Claire Falkenstein. Only, the Venice Claire Falkenstein called home was half a world away. She lived in Venice, California. In the copy of The Peggy Guggenheim Collection of Modern Art that Guggenheim signed to Falkenstein, she makes note of this connection. That copy is currently for sale via the Nick Harvill Libraries store.
Peggy Guggenheim in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni
 Gate to the Palazzo by Claire Falkenstein |  Peggy Guggenheim Inscription to Claire Falkenstein |
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