A n g e l o B . M . C o r r u B i A

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Noted St. Louis architect Angelo B. M. Corrubia was born in Barile, Potenza Province, Italy in 1881 and emigrated to the United States in February of 1903 through Ellis Island on the S.S. Ravenna. Corrubia painted a variety of subjects in around St Louis from the 1920s-1940s. He was an accom-plished landscape painter, often trav-eling to Arcadia, Missouri, situated in Iron County on the Black River in the Missouri Ozarks. It is not surprising that Corrubia was also masterful at the rendering of urban buildings and farm homes and barns with his training as an architect. He frequently painted scenes of mid-town St Louis, where he lived.

A fortuitous meeting at a Michigan art colony in 1926 with a fellow painter from Chicago resulted in the forma-tion of the Business Men’s Art Club, a group of professional men who enjoyed painting as a hobby. With initial advice and introductions from St. Louis architect and painter Tom P. Barnett, and supervision by E.G. Drew, president of the Associated Amateur Art Clubs, the club was formally orga-nized in June 1928 with Corrubia serv-ing as secretary. They met Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings to sketch, paint, visit exhibitions, discuss technique, and critique each other’s work. They also received instruction at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts from Gustav Goetsch. An affiliation with the St. Louis Artist’s Guild allowed members the use of studio space which they could access whenever they liked.

Corrubia participated in the First Inter-City Exhibition of Amateur Art Clubs in 1928 at the Art Institute of Chicago, along with three other members of his St. Louis organization. He exhibited extensively throughout the 1930’s at the City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO and at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. He was a member of the Two-By-Four Society, the Monday Club (St

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Louis), and served on the board of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.

Corrubia studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, Mis-souri, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduating from MIT, he returned to St. Louis to work in the architectural firm of Cann and Corrubia from 1915-1921. Their work included the Collegiate Revival Duncker Memorial Hall at Washington University, built in 1923, and Charles H. Duncker’s personal residence, as well as other private residences through-out St. Louis. In 1916, Corrubia was married to Mary Ghio and together they raised their two children, Angelo Ghio Corrubia and Mary Corrubia (Burgess), in the DeBaliviere neigh-borhood of St. Louis. His son, Angelo Ghio Corrubia, grew up to study architecture and enjoy a successful career in St Louis.

Corrubia was responsible for the design of many buildings that were important to the fabric of the com-munities of St. Louis, including the Sa-cred Heart Convent and St. Ambrose

Church, both located in the historic Italian neighborhood known as “The Hill.” He also served as an associate architect on the Clinton Peabody Terrace Housing Project - one of the first public housing projects devel-oped in St. Louis under the terms of the 1937 Housing Act. Corrubia was the founder and president of Scarab, a national architect fraternity and taught architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He died in 1943 after a brief illness.

A n g e l o B . M . C o r r u B i A

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Corrubia (bottom right) and colleagues.

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Corrubia painting plein air

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e x h i B i t i o n s

1928 First Annual Inter-City Exhibition of Associated Amateur Art Clubs, Art Institute ofChicago; Ozarks

1932 Nineteenth Annual Exhibition of the St. Louis Artists Guild; Ozark Cottage

1933 Twentieth Anniversary Exhibition of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Summer Landscape (oil), New Orleans, Old Street in Lockport

1934 Twenty-First Annual Exhibition of Oil Painting and Sculpture, St. Louis Artists Guild; Old Houses

1936 Twenty-Third Annual Exhibition of Oil Painting and Sculpture, St. Louis Artists Guild; Brick House, In Manchester, MO

Retrospective and Contemporary Exhibition by Members of the Guild, 1886-1936, St. Louis Artists Guild

1937 Paintings by Artists of St. Louis and Vicinity; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; House and Trees

Seventh Annual Exhibition of Water Color and Craftwork; St. Louis Artists’ Guild; Old House (1935)

Small Paintings, St. Louis Artists’ Guild; Red Roof, White Building

1938 Twenty-Fifth Annual Exhibition of Oil Paintings and Sculpture by St. Louis Artists, St. Louis Artists’ Guild; Farm Group, In an Alley

1939 Paintings and Sculpture by Members of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Old House

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1939 Twenty-Sixth Annual Exhibition of Oil Painting and Sculpture, St. Louis Artists Guild; Barns and Fence, Farm and House, Abandoned Houses, Church and Cemetery

Exhibition by Members of the St. Louis Chapter, American Institute of Architects; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Parks: 4 interior views, 3 exterior views

1940 Work by Members of the Two-By-Four Society of St. Louis; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; An Old House

Work by Members of the Artists’ Guild of St. Louis; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Old Barn

1941 Work by Members of the Two-By-Four Society; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Barn and Hay Stacks

Work by Members of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Old Buildings

1942 Work by Members of the Two-By-Four Society; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Trees

Work by Members of the Artists’ Guild of St. Louis; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; View of an Alley

1943 Paintings by the Two by Four Society; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Summer Landscape, Houses

Work by Members of the Artists’ Guild of St. Louis; City Art Museum, St. Louis, MO; Landscape, Haystack and Barn

P A i n t i n g s A n d W o r k s o n P A P e r

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Brewery1933oil on canvas laid down on board16” x 12”dated Sep 2, 1933 verso(estate inventory #9)

The working class neighborhoods of St. Louis, where living space was at a premium, typically consisted of rowhouses and flounder houses. Most were constructed of red brick and date back to the late 19th century. Flounder houses can be found in the city’s oldest neighborhoods: Old North St. Louis, Hyde Park, and Soulard.

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St. Louis Rowhousec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #6)

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Landscape with Buildingsc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board11-1/2” x 16”(estate inventory #1)

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St. Louis Rowhousec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #2)

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View Looking East from St. Louis City (Union Electric Plant, Sauget, IL)1933oil on canvas laid down on board11-1/2” x 16dated verso(estate inventory #59)

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Old St. Louisc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #4)

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The mining of clay and manufacture of clay products became an import-ant part of the economy of St. Louis in 1844 with the opening of the first clay mine. The districts of Saint Louis that surround Dogtown and The Hill sat atop the Cheltenham clay seam which produced a high-quality refractory clay that was shipped all over the country for a variety of household and indus-trial uses, such as modern sewage lines and fire proof bricks. The Highlands Fire Clay Company (pictured above) was founded in 1865 by J. M. Thomas and mined 35 acres of clay for the glass manufacturing industry.

Photo credit and information source: Brophy, John R. “Clay Products Helped Spur City’s Early Growth.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch 17 Aug. 1966: 79. Print.

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Highlands Fire Clay Company, St. Louisc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #10)

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Missouri Landscape (Arcadia, Iron County)c. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #5)

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St. Louis Neighborhood with Figuresc. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #62)

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Buildings in Sunlight (View from Forest Park Looking East)1931 and 1941oil on canvas laid down on board10” x 11-3/4”signed; dated, and titled versoSt. Louis Artist Guild label verso, Small Paintings Exhibition, 1941(estate inventory #91)

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Red Bridge, Forest Parkc. 1930’soil on board9” x 12”titled and inscribed verso(estate inventory #27)

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Landscape with Trees1942pastel on paper6” x 8”signed and dated(estate inventory #44)

Field with Farmersc. 1930’spastel on paper9-1/2” x 12” (estate inventory #46)

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St. Louis Rowhousec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #8)

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Portrait of the Artist’s Son (Angelo Ghio Corrubia)c. 1930’soil on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #113)

Angelo Ghio Corrubia (1919-2000) followed in his father’s footsteps by graduating from the Washing-ton University School of Architec-ture. He became a partner in the architectural firm of Wedemeyer, Cernik, & Corrubia, Inc. Angelo G. was one of the architects responsible for the conversion of the St. Louis Theatre to Powell Symphony Hall. His projects were mainly midcentury in style.

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Self Portraitc. 1930’soil on board20” x 15-1/2”(estate inventory #86)

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Rural Lanec. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #16)

Missouri Landscape with Housec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #12)

Landscape with White Shedc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on cardboard7-1/4” x 5”(estate inventory #88)

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New England Dockc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board9-1/2” x 13-3/4”(estate inventory #66)

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Red House, Flowering Treec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #79)

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River Landscape1933oil on board12” x 16”titled and dated Nov 19, 1933 verso(estate inventory #3)

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Missouri Country Landscapec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #17)

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Sunny Boulevardc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #14)

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Landscape withHaystackc. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #84)

Red Roof1937oil on canvas laid down on board5-1/2” x 6”titled, inscribed,St. Louis Artist’s Guild label verso, Small Paintings, Oct 1937(estate inventory #32)

Yellow Housec. 1930’soil on board4-7/8” x 6-7/8”(estate inventory #85)

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Harbor (Massachusetts)c. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #70)

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Italian Courtyardc. 1930’spastel on paper12” x 9”(estate inventory #104)

Villa Borghese, Italy1912watercolor on paper4-1/2” x 6”signed, titled, and dated(estate inventory #98)

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Venicec. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #15)

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City Garden, St. Louisc. 1930’scolored pencil sketch on cardboard10” x 16-1/2”(estate inventory #48)

St. Louis Street Scenec. 1930’scolored pencil sketch on cardboard8-1/2” x 13(estate inventory #47)

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Silosc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #92)

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Basilica di Santa Maria (Florence, Italy)c. 1930’swatercolor on paper10” x 8”(estate inventory #43)

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Archway, Italyc. 1930’soil on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #21)

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Woman in a White Dress with Green Trimc. 1930’soil on board16” x 11-3/4”(estate inventory #83)

Portrait of a Ladyc. 1930’soil on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #71)

Gypsy Womanc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #69)

Woman in Festive Dressc. 1930’soil on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #95)

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Woman in Red Dressc. 1930’soil on board16” x 12”(estate inventory #94)

Woman in Blue Dressc. 1930’soil on masonite12” x 10”(estate inventory #87)

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Autumn Streamc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 10”(estate inventory #96)

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Old Housesc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board16” x 12”titled, artist’s name and Auction Sale Jan 1930 inscribed verso(estate inventory #7)

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Pisa Camposanto (Monumental Cemetary)Pisa, Italy

24, Luglio, VicenzaStreet Scene

Two Views of Italy1912pencil sketch on paper6-1/2” x 4-1/2 (each)signed, titled, and dated(estate inventory #97)

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Ponte dei Tre Archi (Bridge of the Three Arches), Venice, Italyc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board5” x 9”(estate inventory #38)

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Houses1934oil on canvas laid down on board10” x 12”titled, dated, and inscribed verso(estate inventory #30)

Missouri Landscape with Barnc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board18” x 24”(estate inventory #11)

Housesc. 1936oil on board12” x 16”titled and inscribed verso(estate inventory #18)

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Near St. James (MO)1935oil on canvas laid down on board7” x 10”signed, titled, and dated verso(estate inventory #110)

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Mississippi River Scenec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board6” x 8-1/2”(estate inventory #89)

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Morning Lightc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board6” x 9”bears entry tag #5 from unknown exhibition(estate inventory #39)

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Sketchc. 1930’soil on canvasboard5-3/4” x 9”titled and inscribed, and St. Louis Artists’ Guild label verso(estate inventory #34)

Barns and Church1939oil on panel6” x 9”dated verso(estate inventory #37)

Farm Path1942pastel on paper7-1/2” x 9”signed and dated(estate inventory #100)

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Landscape with Figuresc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board10” x 7-3/4(estate inventory #105)

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Autumn Streamc. 1930’spastel on paper10” x 8-1/2”(estate inventory #102)

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White Building1937oil on canvas laid down on board6-3/4” x 8-1/2”titled and inscribed versoSt. Louis Artists’ Guild label verso, Small Paintings, Oct 1937(estate inventory #33)

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(estate inventory #53 a, c, f)

Sketch from Life1910ink pen on paper9” x 6”signed, dated, and titled Sept 24, 1910

Figure Sketchesc. 1910’s-1930’spencil sketch on paper9” x 6” and 6” x 9”

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Still Life with Fruit and Flowersc. 1930’soil on board18” x 20”(estate inventory #82)

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St. Louis City Scenec. 1930’spastel on paper4-1/2” x 5”(estate inventory #45)

Barn(e)s and Fencec. 1930’spastel on paper5” x 6-1/4”St. Louis Artist Guild and Healy Gallery (St. Louis)labels verso(estate inventory #90)

Bucolic Countryside with Barnc. 1930’spastel on paper7” x 9-3/4”signed with monogram(estate inventory #101)

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Autumn Landscapec. 1930’soil on board10” x 12”(estate inventory #31)

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Pastoral Dwellingsc. 1930’soil on canvas8” x 10”(estate inventory #40)

Wheat Field and Barnc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board10” x 12”(estate inventory #28)

Red Barn in Summerc. 1930’soil on panel8” x 10”(estate inventory #42)

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Missouri Stream1931oil on canvas10” x 14”(estate inventory #23)

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Castlewood Afternoon1934oil on canvas laid down on board8” x 10” titled and dated verso(estate inventory #90)

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Barns1936oil on canvasboard8” x 10”titled, dated, and inscribed verso(estate inventory #24)

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Missouri Streamc. 1930’soil on board15-1/2” x 11-5/8”(estate inventory #56)

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St. Louis Rowhousec. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board14” x 14”(estate inventory #13)

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Country House c. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board14” x 16”(estate inventory #73)

Red Housec. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #58)

St. Louis Neighborhoodc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #76)

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Autumn Reflections c. 1930’soil on masonite14” x 18”(estate inventory #106)

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Rockport Church1932pencil sketch on paper11” x 8-1/2”signed, titled, and dated Aug 19, 1932 (estate inventory #50)

Rockport House1932pencil sketch on paper11” x 8-1/2”signed, titled, and dated Aug 19, 1932 (estate inventory #51, #52)

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New England Harborc. 1930’soil on board11-3/4” x 16”(estate inventory #60)

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Pastoral Scene in Autumnc. 1930’soil on board16” x 20”(estate inventory #81)

Selphout Farm (Barn)1935-1938oil on board12” x 16”signed, titled, and dated verso(estate inventory #107)

A Farmc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board18” x 24”signed, titled, and St. Louis Artist’s Guild label verso(estate inventory #80)

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Flower Gardenc. 1930’soil on canvasboard14” x 10”(estate inventory #29)

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The Blue Windowc. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #117)

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New England Harborc. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #63)

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Clothesline in Summerc. 1930’soil on board16” x 20”(estate inventory #78)

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St. Louis Flounder House1931oil on canvas laid down on board8” x 10”dated verso(estate inventory #25)

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Missouri Landscapec. 1930’soil on board16” x 20”(estate inventory #55)

Missouri Farmc. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #22)

Churchc. 1930’soil on cardboard8” x 10”(estate inventory #26)

Country Housec. 1930’soil on panel6” x 9”(estate inventory #36)

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Industrial Scene with Streamc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #114)

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Early Winterc. 1930’spastel on paper8-1/2” x 11-1/4”dated and titled verso(estate inventory #103)

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Gray Day, Kimmswick1931 and 1943oil on canvas laid down on board7-3/4” x 9-3/4”dated and titled verso(estate inventory #65)

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Missouri Farmsteadc. 1930’soil on board14” x 16”(estate inventory #72)

Easter Sunday1938oil on masonite16” x 19-3/4”titled, dated, and inscribed verso: April 17, 1938(estate inventory #54)

Landscape with Distant Buildingsc. 1930’soil on panel6” x 9”(estate inventory #108)

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Blue Doorc. 1930’soil on panel9” x 6” (estate inventory #35)

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Forest Park Scene (possible view of the World’s Fair Pavilion)c. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #112)

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Landscape with Streamc. 1930’soil on canvasboard16” x 12”(estate inventory #20)

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Missouri Poplarsc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #75)

Spring Landscape with Housesc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #115)

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Sandy Riverbankc. 1930’soil on canvas14-1/4” x 16”(estate inventory #61)

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Bridge in the Parkc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board8” x 10”remnants of label verso(estate inventory #109)

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Canal in Venicec. 1930’soil on board12” x 16”(estate inventory #116)

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House in the Suburbsc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board14” x 14”(estate inventory #67)

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Stream Reflectionsc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board11-3/4” x 16”(estate inventory #74)

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Red Doorc. 1930’soil on board10” x 8”(estate inventory

#111)

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Missouri Cabin1931oil on canvas laid down on board12” x 16”dated verso(estate inventory #19)

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Yellow House in Late Summerc. 1935oil on board13-3/4” x 17-3/4”signed and dated versopartial exhibition labels: Monday Club and St. Louis Artist’s Guild.(estate inventory #57)

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Red Barnc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on masonite16” x 20”(estate inventory #77)

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Old Town Churchc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board14” x 16”(estate inventory #68)

Missouri Farmc. 1930’soil on board16” x 20”(estate inventory #93)

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Summer Brookc. 1930’soil on canvasboard8” x 6”(estate inventory #41)

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American Indian Figure Studiesc. 1910-1930’spencil sketch on paper9” x 6” (each)(estate inventory #53 b,d,e)

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Ozark Cabinc. 1930’soil on canvas laid down on board10” x 8”(estate inventory #64)

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st. louis County historiC Buildings And

residenCes designed By Angelo B.M. CorruBiA

Mont M. Levy

David P. Wohl, Sr.

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C l A y t o n Charles H. Duncker 1916 Cann & Angelo B. M. Corrubia 15 BrentmoorW. J. Carton 1922 Corrubia & Henderson 05 Wydown TerraceMilton Mendle 1922 Corrubia & Henderson 6465 WydownMont M. Levy 1925 Corrubia & Henderson 6390 ForsythDavid P. Wohl, Sr. 1925 Corrubia & Henderson 6400 ForsythJ. F. Hellrung 1926-27 Angelo B. M. Corrubia 6330 Forsyth

r i C h M o n d h e i g h t s Viviano House 1928 Angelo B. M. Corrubia 1176 Center Drive E. Hayden Parks 1929 Angelo B. M. Corrubia 1170 Hampton Park Dr.

u n i v e r s i t y C i t y Joseph E. Sullivan 1923 Corrubia & Henderson 7336 Maryland AvenueWilliam F. Peters 1923 Corrubia & Henderson 7380 Westmoreland Dr.Jerre B. Moberly 1925 Corrubia & Henderson 7101 Westmoreland Dr.Edward Bokern 1926 Corrubia & Henderson 7225 Maryland AvenueCharles G. Rueckoldt 1926 Corrubia & Henderson 7320 Teasdale (590 Stratford)4 Family Apartment 1928 Angelo B. M. Corrubia 7330 Pershing4 Family Apartment 1928 Angelo B. M. Corrubia 7334 Pershing

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Collegiate Revival Duncker Memorial Hall, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 1923, Cann & Corrubia (in associa-tion with Jamieson and Spearl).

Dedicated in October 1924, the Charles Duncker Jr. Hall originally housed the School of Commerce and Finance.

This hall was a gift to the university by Charles H. Duncker Sr., in memory of his son, Charles H. Duncker Jr., who lost his life in France during World War I. Cann & Corrubia had previously designed the Duncker’s private residence in Brentmo-or Park, Clayton, MO in 1916.

Charles H. Duncker, Jr. Memorial Niche

Charles H. Duncker Residence

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St. Ambrose Church, 1926, Corrubia & Henderson

This late Romanesque Revival design replaced an earlier wood frame build-ing that was destroyed by fire. It remains the parish church of The Hill neighbor-hood in St. Louis to this day.

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Italianate fountain located at the intersection of Kingshighway Boulevard, Shenan-doah Avenue, and Vandeventer Avenue (St. Louis, MO); originally designed for Garavelli’s Restaurant at 300 DeBaliviere Avenue (St. Louis, MO), which was built in 1926 and demolished in 1987. The fountain was donat-ed to the city and moved to its present location in the 1990’s.

(Gravenhorst, Edna Campos. Southwest Garden. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2008. Print.)