The Villa Rychenberg in Winterthur functioned as an essential nexus for European artists and musicians during the early twentieth century, maintained by the merchant and industrialist Werner Reinhart. Far beyond a simple residence, this meeting point facilitated international cultural exchange, sustained by the inheritance Reinhart managed alongside his elder brother Georg through the family business, Volkart.
Industrial Leadership and Patronage
Born in 1884 in Winterthur, Switzerland, Reinhart balanced his professional roles as a merchant, treasurer, and industrialist with a deep commitment to the arts. His contribution to cultural life was recognized in 1932 when he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich. Often referred to as the Winterthur Maecenas, he earned the moniker L'homme aux mains d'or from the artist Alice Bailly, whose 1920 portrait of him is titled The Man with the Golden Heart.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Musical Sponsorship and Collaborations
Between 1922 and 1950, Reinhart and Hermann Scherchen directed the musical development of Winterthur, focusing specifically on contemporary works. An accomplished amateur clarinetist, Reinhart provided crucial financial support to Igor Stravinsky, underwriting the 1918 premiere of Histoire du soldat at the Théâtre Municipal de Lausanne. Stravinsky dedicated the work to him and later gifted him the original manuscript, along with his Three Pieces for Clarinet. Other composers, including Othmar Schoeck, Paul Hindemith, and Arthur Honegger, dedicated various compositions to him, while Reinhart facilitated Anton Webern’s travel to Winterthur for the 1943 premiere of his Variations for Orchestra, Op. 30.
Support for Literature and Fine Arts
Reinhart’s patronage extended to literature, most notably through his support of Rainer Maria Rilke. In 1922, he purchased the Chateau de Muzot in Veyras, providing it to Rilke rent-free to ensure the poet had the stability to complete the Duino Elegies and the Sonnets to Orpheus. Reinhart was also an active figure in the visual arts, commissioning a portrait from Oskar Kokoschka in 1947. He utilized his personal wealth to facilitate the work of figures such as Frank Martin and Ernst Krenek, maintaining a lifelong commitment to the creative output of his era.
Fast facts
- Born: 1884, Winterthur
- Died: 1951, Winterthur
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Religion: Reformed
- Buried: Rosenberg cemetery
- Honorary Doctorate: University of Zurich, 1932
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Chateau de Muzot?
Werner Reinhart bought the property in 1922 to provide Rainer Maria Rilke with a permanent residence, enabling the poet to complete the Duino Elegies.
What was Werner Reinhart's profession?
He was a Swiss merchant, industrialist, and treasurer who managed the family business, Volkart, alongside his brother Georg.
.jpg)