My friend Bruno Giacometti

Over the 10 or more years that I knew Bruno Giacometti, a mutual trust evolved between us that shifted our relationship from a normal business one into a close friendship. Especially after the death of his wife, Odette, in 2007, I visited him more often in his house near Zurich to help pass the long afternoons.

From our talks I learnt a lot about the Giacometti family of artists, about their lives, their history and other details that are nowhere to be found in any literature. He spoke at length about his childhood spent in Maloja in the summer, and in Stampa, in Bergell, in the winter.

Augusto Giacometti, a second cousin of his father, Giovanni, came from the same village. Although the relationship between Augusto and Bruno’s family was not all that close, Bruno always knew if Augusto was visiting: he could smell Augusto’s perfume made from Lily of the Valley.

Augusto Giacometti (1877-1947), Selbstbildnis mit Hut, 1908. Oil on Canvas. Diameter 51.5 cm. Estimate: CHF400,000-600,000. This work and all those featured below are offered for sale in the Swiss Art sale in Zurich on 5 May

Cuno Amiet, a close friend of Bruno’s father and godfather to his brother, Alberto, was a frequent visitor to the Giacometti house. The journey from Oschwand, near Solothurn, to Maloja in the Oberengadine was quite strenuous for Cuno Amiet and his wife. Although they had a car from very early on, it was forbidden to drive an automobile in the Canton of Graubünden until 1925. Thus, they would drive to the border of the canton, hitch two horses to their car, and then travel on to Chur where they finally boarded a train. The valley of Bergell was not only home to the artistic Giacometti family, but also to the painter Varlin who moved into the neighbouring village of Bondo in 1963.

Giovanni Giacometti (1868-1933), Piz Lagrev, um 1918. Oil on canvas. 61 x 56 cm. Estimate: CHF400,000-600,000

On each of my regular visits, I would always bring Bruno his favourite cake — a chocolate gugelhopf — and this became tradition over the years. I shall never forget his reaction and the joy it gave him. Whenever his searching eye caught sight of his cake upon my arrival, he always said, ‘Please put the cake in the kitchen!’ There on the dining table were coffee and cakes — his brother, Diego’s, creation.

Throughout the entire house were paintings and art objects of his father, Giovanni, of his two brothers, Alberto and Diego, and of other artist friends, for example, of his godfather, Ferdinand Hodler, who had given him a painting at his baptism, or of Eduardo Chillida who was his friend.

Bruno had a story for every painting. Bruno and his wife Odette were close friends with the Swiss artist Serge Brignoni. He dined with them often, as his earnings as an artist did not go far. Once he brought along a present for them — a handmade wall mirror made out of very fine metallic leaves. It was only much later that he told the Giacomettis that he had made the mirror out of sardine cans, as he could only afford to eat cheap sardines at the time. From then on, they called the mirror ‘Louis Sardienes’.

Left: Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) und Jeanne Charles Cerani (1874-1955), Bildnis Jeanne Charles Cerani, 1910. Oil on canvas. 64 x 40 cm. Estimate: CHF80,000-120,000. Right: Cuno Amiet (1868-1961), Bildnis Greti Amiet, 1921. Oil on Canvas. 46 x 38 cm. Estimate: CHF40,000-60,000

Bruno Giacometti’s birthday invitations, extended to chosen guests each year, were very special and impressive, even into his very old age. He died at home in 2012, at the age of 105, after a long and well-lived life. I was asked, and it was my great honour, to auction some pieces from his estate within the framework of the Swiss Art Auction. It went extremely well and the proceeds were donated to Dr. Beat Richner’s Foundation for the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals in Cambodia.

Main image at top: The Giacometti family in Capolago Maloja, Switzerland, around 1912/13. From left: Diego, Giovanni, Bruno, Alberto, Annetta and Ottilie

 

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