In 1976, the Bugnion family bequeathed the Hermitage and part of the estate to the City of Lausanne leading to the creation of a private foundation dedicated to establishing an arts museum. Since 1984, the Hermitage has hosted two to three temporary art exhibitions each year, showcasing a diverse range of visual art within its historic setting.
Architecture
The Hermitage mansion, constructed between 1851 and 1853 for banker Charles-Juste Bugnion, was designed by Swiss architect Louis Wenger. Charles-Juste Bugnion had purchased the vast Hermitage estate overlooking the city of Lausanne in 1841. To make way for the new residence, the two existing houses on the property were demolished in the spring of 1851.
The Hermitage residence was designed with large windows letting in plenty of light. Its south facade with views towards Lausanne and the Alps has a vast balcony.
Hermitage - south facade
Both sides of the building feature large loggias, combining cut stone and cast iron.
Hermitage - side loggia
Hermitage - side loggia
On the first floor, the "Salon bleu" is dedicated to the history of the Hermitage estate and its inhabitants. The furniture, curtains and the wallpaper are from the Napoleon III period. Until 1983, it was located on the ground floor and served as a smoking room. An interior staircase links all levels of the mansion.
Fondation de l'Hermitage - Salon bleu
Hermitage - staircase
Fondation de l'Hermitage - corridor
exhibition
Fondation de l'Hermitage - corridor
A new entrance pavilion and underground exhibitions rooms were added in 2002 to plans by architectural practice Mondada Frigerio Dupraz.
Hermitage - entrance and museum shop
museum shop
Hermitage - underground exhibition room
Hermitage - underground exhibition room
Collection
The Fondation de l’Hermitage’s collection, largely built through donations, bequests, and deposits since the museum's opening in 1984, now includes over 800 works. Highlights include major pieces by Vaudois and Swiss Romande artists such as Ernest Biéler, Ferdinand Hodler, and Félix Vallotton, as well as a remarkable collection of 400 Chinese porcelains assembled by Marie Vergottis.
Un bal à l'Hermitage, François Bonnet
Danseuses au repos, Edgar Degas, 1898
La Seine à Saint-Cloud, Alfred Sisley, 1879
Miss Reynolds, Berthe Morisot, 1884
Past Exhibitions
Masterpieces from the Langmatt Museum
2024-06-28 - 2024-11-03
In 2024, the Fondation de l’Hermitage celebrated its 40th anniversary with a remarkable exhibition in collaboration with the Museum Langmatt in Baden, which is currently closed for renovations. The exhibition showcased an extraordinary collection of primarily Impressionist works, purchased by Jenny and Sidney Brown between 1908 and 1919. Usually displayed in the historic Villa Langmatt, this exquisite collection was presented outside its usual setting for the first time.
Masterpieces from the Langmatt Museum
John Brown à l'âge de quatre ans, Julius Exter, 1904
Portrait de Sidney W. Brown, Max Oppenheimer, 1917
Études, Henri Matisse, 1908
Nicolas de Staël
2024-02-09 - 2024-06-09
The Fondation de l’Hermitage collaborated with the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris / Paris Musées to present a comprehensive retrospective of Nicolas de Staël (1914–1955), a pivotal artist in post-war modern art. The exhibition brought together around 100 works, including paintings, drawings, and sketchbooks, sourced from public and private collections across Switzerland and internationally.
Nicolas de Staël
Parc des Princes, Nicolas de Staël, 1952
Nicolas de Staël
Nicolas de Staël
Léon Spilliaert. Avec la mer du Nord ...
2023-01-27 - 2023-05-29
Treasures from the Fondation des Treilles
2022-01-21 - 2022-05-29
In early 2022, the Fondation de l’Hermitage presented Switzerland’s first exhibition of masterpieces from the Fondation des Treilles, created by Anne Gruner Schlumberger in Tourtour, France. Featuring works by artists such as Max Ernst, Victor Brauner, Hans Arp, Pablo Picasso, and Georges Braque, the exhibition showcased a rich selection of around 100 paintings, sculptures, and objects.
Pour les amis d’Alice, Max Ernst, 1957
Mondkalb, Victor Brauner, 1958
Palais de l'intelligence, Victor Brauner, 1956
Crow (Statue), Josef Sima, 1927
Objets placés selon les lois du hasard, Hans Arp, 1936
Moutons avec tête, François-Xavier Lalanne, 1965
Fondation de la Treille
Hans Emmenegger
2021-06-25 - 2021-10-31
The Fondation de l’Hermitage hosted the first major retrospective in French-speaking Switzerland of Swiss painter Hans Emmenegger (1866–1940). Featuring around 100 works, the exhibition highlighted Emmenegger’s bold and original landscapes and still lifes, characterized by his fascination with nature, light, and movement.
Schneeschmelze, Hans Emmenegger, 1908/1909
Kirschbaum im Herbst, Hans Emmenegger, 1913
Waldinneres, Hans Emmenegger, 1938
Fig Tree In Front Of Red Soil, Hans Emmenegger, 1911
Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons
2020-01-24 - 2020-05-24
Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons was a touring exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Canada. Featuring around 100 works by 35 Canadian artists, it explored how two generations of Canadian artists adopted and transformed Impressionism, inspired by their studies in France and travels across Europe.
Après-midi hivernale, une rue de Toronto, Lawren S. Harris, 1918
Un canal en hiver, Ernest Lawson, 1894
