The Berry Museum in St. Moritz
The Berry Museum was founded in 2004 by the painter's grandson, Peter Robert Berry IV, and opened in the premises of Villa Arona. The painter's older brother, the dentist Dr. med. dent. Johann Berry, had built the spacious house around 1904. Subsequently, three generations of Berrys worked as doctors in the Villa Arona.
Today it houses oil paintings, pastels and drawings by Peter Robert Berry II, created over a period of forty years. Drawing on this comprehensive family collection, the museum provides an in-depth insight into the painter's artistic work. In addition, there is the legacy – consisting of books, letters, notes, diaries, music and numerous documents such as maps, brochures and writings on the founding and development of the spa town of St. Moritz – which is significant with regard to the cultural history. It thus becomes clear how life, work and landscape intertwine to form a unique record of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Exhibition
The permanent exhibition offers a representative insight into the artist's work. Starting from the beginnings and Berry's intense involvement with Giovanni Giacometti and Giovanni Segantini, which finds expression in the oil painting "Christmas Eve", the permanent exhibition offers a representative insight into the artist's work.
His landscape paintings, all of which were created in the open air, capture the light under a southern sky and let the colours glow.
Young audience
The Berry Museum also wants to appeal to young visitors and bring them closer to the beauty of the mountain landscape through the powerful colours and expressive motifs of the pictures. Our aim is to awaken curiosity and sensitivity.
In doing so, we take up the stories that Berry's pictures tell: About the time around 1900, when one could not yet comfortably reach the Engadine with the Albula railway. They capture the hard and sometimes dangerous life of the muleteers, stagecoach drivers and roadmen. But you can also relive the sporting events - the Olympics, skijoring and horse racing on the frozen lake - that shaped social winter life in St. Moritz.
Local history
In the museum the many documents and objects relating to the contemporary history of St. Moritz are exciting: whether the old ski equipment and sledges, the portraits of contemporaries, the painting utensils – in the Berry Museum, local history can be experienced in a tangible way and complements art history.
In this way, not only Peter Robert Berry's life can be experienced, but also the history of the cosmopolitan spa town of St. Moritz.
Audio guides or guided tour
Audio guides from the Sennheiser company are available in the museum in three languages: German, Italian and English. They provide information about the work and life of Peter Robert Berry II. If you prefer a private guided tour, we are happy to accompany you through the museum outside our opening hours.