Berry Museum
Art museum in the Villa Arona in St. Moritz with paintings and the estate of the Engadine painter Peter Robert Berry II (1864–1942).
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About the museum
The Berry Museum is dedicated to Peter Robert Berry II (1864–1942). He came from a family of physicians and, like his father, worked as a spa doctor in St. Moritz, but began painting from 1900. He studied at the Académie Julien in Paris and in Munich at the school of Heinrich Knirr. Back in the Engadine he preferred to paint outdoors, for example on the Julier and Bernina passes. Over four decades he produced numerous oil paintings, pastels and drawings in the Divisionist style, as also practised by Giovanni Segantini; Berry was also in contact with Giovanni Giacometti.
The museum is housed on the ground floor of the Villa Arona, built in the early 20th century for the dentist Johann Berry, a brother of the painter. Three generations of the family ran a medical practice there. In 2004 the painter’s grandson, Peter Robert Berry IV, founded the museum and opened it in the rooms of the villa.
The permanent exhibition leads from Berry’s beginnings and his engagement with Segantini and Giacometti to his Engadine mountain landscapes. The estate includes books, letters, diaries, sheet music and documents on the development of the spa resort of St. Moritz, which also bring local history to life. The library and archive are open to specialist visitors on request.
Highlights
- Paintings, pastels and drawings by Peter Robert Berry II
- Oil painting “Christmas Eve” as evidence of his closeness to Segantini and Giacometti
- Villa Arona as the Berry family’s former medical practice
- Documents and objects on the history of St. Moritz (skis, sleds, portraits)
- Multilingual audio guide (German, Italian, English)
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung Peter Robert Berry II – Shows Berry’s work from his beginnings in the circle of Segantini and Giacometti to his light-flooded Engadine mountain landscapes.
- Founded
- 2004
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 15 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Children up to 12 years have free admission. |
The admission fee of CHF 15 includes the audio guide.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
|---|
The museum also wishes to appeal to young guests: the strong colours and narrative motifs (pack drivers, stagecoach drivers, winter sports on the frozen lake) are meant to bring the mountain world closer to them. Children up to 12 years have free admission.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Library and archive (documents on the family’s biography as well as on the local and medical history of St. Moritz) for specialist visitors after prior request.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, IT, EN) |
| Good to know | Sennheiser audio guides in German, Italian and English. Private tours can also be arranged outside opening hours. Virtual tour on the website. |
