Rudolph Edward Torrini

Rudolph Edward Torrini (March 31, 1923 – September 5, 2018) was an American artist best known for his sculptures, wood carvings and bronze public monuments in the St. Louis area, including "The Immigrants", "The Union Soldier," and "Martin Luther King." A student of Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, his work is also influenced by the works of Auguste Rodin. Torrini trained and taught Bob Cassilly,[1] founder of the City Museum in St. Louis, and also helped establish the Master of Fine Arts program in Fontbonne College.

Rudolph Edward Torrini
Born(1923-03-31)March 31, 1923
St.Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedSeptember 5, 2018(2018-09-05) (aged 95)
NationalityAmerican
EducationBFA, Washington University 1949;
Fulbright Scholar, Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze 1949;
MFA, University of Notre Dame 1958
Known forSculpture, Wood Carving, Drawing

Life and career

Early life

Rudolph Torrini was born in St. Louis the son of Stella DiPalma, a pianist in silent movie houses, and Cherinto Torrini, a plaster mold-maker from Garfagnana, Tuscany. After the death of his father, he became a jazz saxophone performer in his teenage years to support his family, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving as a clarinetist on the ship's band of the transport ship U.S.S. West Point.

Torrini had begun drawing during the war, and afterwards earned a BFA at Washington University, then was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study for a year at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Florence, Italy in 1949. Afterwards, he earned his MFA at the University of Notre Dame, where he studied under Ivan Mestrovic. He went on to teach first at Webster College (now Webster University) for 17 years, then chaired the Art Department at Fontbonne College for 35 years.[2]


St. Louis artists community

Torrini was part of the community of 20th Century St. Louis artists that included Edward Boccia, Fred Green Carpenter, Fred Conway, Herb Cummings, Werner Drewes, Gustav Goetsch, Bill Fett, Phil Sultz, Jan Sultz, and Bob Cassilly. He did most of his initial work with clay at his studio in his home in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves. Torrini is married to Ann Walsh Torrini, a painter and maker of stained glass window illustrations, and has four children.

Musical career

Rudolph Torrini first worked as a jazz saxophone player and clarinetists during the 1930s and 40s, including performing as part of the Navy Band present at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's funeral. Later, in the 1970s, he formed a Dixieland band with five other musicians called Tiger Rag Jazz Forever, which performed in the St. Louis area and recorded 3 LPs, including Tigers on Parade.[3] All of their recordings feature clarinet and saxophone solos by Torrini. In addition, he was a lover of classical music, and always listened to it while working on his sculptures in his studio.

Death

Torrini died on September 5, 2018 at the age of 95, following complications from Alzheimer's disease.[4]

Major works

Rudolph Torrini is best known for his bronze cast public monuments, but he has also made many smaller statues, bas-reliefs, wood carvings, and drawings. A life long Catholic, many of his works have religious themes (for example "John Paul II", "St. Patrick"), while others commemorate groups or individuals, ("Italian Immigrants", "Martin Luther King") or explore the human body ("The Four Seasons and the Clouds").

Public monuments in the St. Louis Area

Other major works


Discography
  • I Hear Tigers
  • Jazz Classics
  • Tigers on Parade

Honors and awards

References
  1. Langer, Emily (October 4, 2011). "Bob Cassilly, sculptor and creator of quirky St. Louis museum and park, dies at 61". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. Jarrett, Linda (October 19, 2012). "A Webster Tribute to Rudolph Torrini". Webster Kirkwood Times. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  3. "Tigers on parade [sound recording] / Tiger Rag Forever Jazz Band". bridges.searchmobius.org. MOBIUS. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. Kutis Funeral Homes: Torrini, Rudolph E.
  5. Allen, Michael R. "Finding traces of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Louis". The St. Louis American. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  6. S, Bruce. "Saint Louis Police Memorial - St. Louis, Missouri". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  7. "Memorial to Christopher Harris". www.racstl.org. Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  8. Farrell, Edward. "Ruma Center, another historic St. Louis convent landmark". wn.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
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