160 THE TATTOOED VILLA
Jean Cocteau was the house guest that wouldn’t leave. But at least he gave his hostess, Francine Weisweiller, a lovely parting gift. Shortly after arriving at Villa Santo Sospir on the French Riviera, the poet decorated a wall. And during the next decade, the rest of the house. A pictorial poem mixing Greek mythology with daily life
«When I was at Santo Sospir during the summer of 1950, I decorated a wall», remembered Jean Cocteau. «But Henri Matisse maintained that once you’ve decorated one wall you have to decorate all of them. And he was right». Starting with that first wall, the renowned French writer and artist continued painting for six months, leaving his distinct mark on every room of the villa – and not just on the walls. He painted the doors, furniture and even lampshades. «I drew on the house’s skin, like a tattoo», Cocteau said. Thus, there are well-defined lines and limited colours with the walls serving as his fleshy canvas. The goal was to look like a tattoo, rather than a fresco. Villa Santo Sospir’s wealthy owner, Francine Weisweiller, met Jean Cocteau in Paris in 1949 on the set of his film «Les Enfants Terribles». Her husband, Alec Weisweiller, had made her a promise years earlier. If they survived World War II, he would buy her the home of her dreams. He was good to his word. And it was here at Villa Santo Sospir in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the South of France that Francine, an art patron, invited Cocteau. He became a frequent, welcome guest and dear friend until 1962 when a disagreement distanced them. The first completed work depicts the sun god Apollo. His head, encircled by a mane of hair in flames, holds court over the fireplace mantel in the living room. On either side of Apollo, Cocteau added two Greek priests that are actually fishermen from the nearby village of Villefranche. In a corner, Francine is featured. She’s lying down, dozing under the sun with her head resting on the door frame. Near her feet, there’s a light snack of sea urchins and the local «fougasse» bread. Francine selected the home’s furnishings with the help of Madeleine Castaing, one of the era’s most acclaimed interior decorators and a