Renowned actor and stuntman, Jean Marais (December 11, 1913 - November 8, 1998) was also a very talented director, painter, writer, potter and sculptor.
He was also the companion of Jean Cocteau.
His tomb located in the Old Cemetery of Vallauris is really very astonishing.
Conceived by the actor himself, it was inspired by the film "Beauty and the Beast" by Jean Cocteau in which he plays the role of the Beast.
Framed by two masks with the effigy of the actor in the film, the tomb is surmounted by a sphinx with deer horns and mermaid tail.
Jean Marais and Vallauris
Jean Marais lived in Vallauris from 1980 until his death in November 1998. In 1973, he had met the Pasquali family, Jo Pasquali becoming in a way the potter of the artist and the actor going so far as to make the couple his sole heirs.
His apprenticeship in ceramic art led him to get closer to Vallauris and its "city of potters" where he opened his first gallery in 1975. In 1980, he decided to settle in Vallauris and became actively involved in local life. He will thus realize fifteen years during the posters of the Pottery Festival and will offer the statue "La Rebellissière" which thrones today in the lower part of the city. Honorary citizen of the city, Jean Marais died on November 08, 1998.
Old Cemetery of Vallauris,
Allée du Souvenir Français,
06220 Vallauris
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