Giacometti, Scartezzini, Zendralli - A cultural walk through Chur

On the occasion of the 130th birthday of Giuseppe Scartezzini

Giacometti, Scartezzini, Zendralli – A cultural walk through Chur

Giuseppe Scartezzini (1895-1967) was a painter and glass painter in Zurich. This artist with Bregaglia roots has unfortunately been somewhat forgotten. His last major commissioned work are the 40 heraldic discs of the (former) Bündner Kreise in the Grand Council Chamber in Chur.

In the 1920s, Giuseppe Scartezzini (1895-1967) worked as an assistant to Augusto Giacometti on the painting of Amtshaus I in Zurich ("Blüemlihalle") and in 1948 – after Giacometti's death – renovated these frescoes in stages. Augusto Giacometti created his first Swiss stained glass windows for St. Martin's Church in Chur in 1918/1919.

Many other works by Scartezzini can be found in the public space of Graubünden, including in the Church of St. Luzisteig, in the Church of the Redeemer and in the Stadtraatssaal in Chur, in the Graubünden Art Museum, in the choir of the churches of St. Peter and Peist in Schanfigg, in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Arosa with the motif "Saint Lucius baptizes the Rhaetian" and in the refectory of the Disentis Monastery. Scartezzini's last sacred work – a stained glass window in the occulus of the church of San Luzi in Zuoz – is a great homage to Augusto Giacometti.

On a church and cultural walk through the old town of Chur on the occasion of Scartezzini's 130th birthday, Walter Isler sheds light not only on his life and artistic work with panel paintings, wall paintings, stained glass windows, heraldic panes and designed everyday objects, but also on his relationship with his patron Dr. Arnoldo Zendralli and Augusto Giacometti. The meeting point is Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in front of St. Martin's Church in Chur. Jürg Stocker on the organ enriches this occasion. Duration until approx. 5:00 p.m. Entrance free. No registration necessary.

More information on
www.baselgias-engiadinaisas.ch/


Walter Isler came to Graubünden as a young chemist. After years in marketing, sales and management, he completed training as a church guide after his retirement. Since 2021, he has been offering church and cultural tours, primarily in the Upper Engadine. He lives in Bever. - Jürg Stocker received his organ training from Ursula Hauser, Hansjörg Stalder and Ester Mottini. After years as an organist in Domleschg, Schams and Bergün, he has been organist in the Reformed parish of Upper Engadine, primarily in Samedan, Bever and La Punt Chamues-ch, since 2017.