Bob Cassilly (1949-2011) Turtle concrete sculpture Turtle Park is a playground decorated with seven of Bob Cassilly's concrete turtles, some like this one, and was established in 1996. The playground is located just south of Forest Park in St. Louis.
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Caryatid, 1990 (refined by the artist in 2009) concrete sculpture This tall slender colossal depiction of a female has been crafted out of an earthly-tinged concrete. The beautiful and larger-than-life female caryatid stands tall with boldly shaped facial features and is strongly reminiscent of the ancient Egyptian quartzite and granite statues of Queen Tiye (or Teje), wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Scribe, July 1971 sandstone sculpture This ancient looking male scribe has been roughly carved in sandstone. This scholar with bold facial features and block-like body features sits on the ground with his legs tightly crossed while holding and reading from a prized possession: a beloved thick book. Turning to a fascinating text that engages him deeply, this scribe is taking a temporary break from writing and is focusing here instead on gaining new knowledge through reading. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) From Bacchanal: Children Hanging from Trees and Surrounded by Animals, 1981 bas-relief in fiberglass This large-scale bas relief made from a fiberglass mold recalls ancient stucco reliefs popular in the Imperial era of ancient Rome (specifically from the 1st century). The relief features four young male children playing in a forest and hanging among its trees, flowers and caterpillars. Two of the youth dangle from branches while two sit perched above two cows, a bird and a cute obedient sitting dog. The panel evokes the joy of spring and summer outside in nature, the joy of freedom and the joy of the idea of the free-spirited natural innocence of youth and revelry. This panel was abandoned at the Lafayette Shop/Cassilly & Cassilly, and rescued by Giovanna Cassilly. The attached photos show the panels being rescued from the Lafayette Shop. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) From Bacchanal: Three Satyrs in a Woodland Setting, 1981 bas-relief in fiberglass This large-scale bas relief in fiberglass recalls ancient stucco reliefs popular in the Imperial era of ancient Rome (specifically from the 1st century). The panel features three satrys, the wild male ancient nature spirits of Greek mythology that were part man and part goat (with the hooves, ears and tail of a goat) as well as companions of Dionysius and Pan. These creatures inhabited remote woodlands and loved wine, music, dance, women and nymphs and were known for their excessive and overindulgent animalistic behavior. This trio of satyrs are captured here at rest among trees as they await their next wild adventure. This panel was abandoned at the Lafayette Shop/Cassilly & Cassilly, and rescued by Giovanna Cassilly. The attached photos show the panels being rescued from the Lafayette Shop. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Monumental Standing Female Hand-carved walnut sculpture This tall slender monumental depiction of a female has been carved out of the base of a tall slender tree trunk. The beautiful and larger-than-life female figure stands tall with boldly shaped facial features, looking downwards in a somber fashion over her left shoulder. Cassilly glosses over the details of her body, and she holds her long arms along the backside of her elongated torso. Her feet and head merge into the wooden trunk purposefully left in an unfinished fashion, making her seem as one with a tall tree from a Missouri forest. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Untitled Female, Oct. 1971 sandstone sculpture At first glance this nearly life-sized sculpture of a standing young female figure with her eyes closed appears as if it had been roughly carved from marble in Antiquity—yet it was created out of concrete in contemporary times. And although concrete was created and mastered by the ancient Romans as a building material, it wasn't until the 20th c. that it became a popular material for use among sculptors. Cassilly succeeded at using a rough, unfinished, pumice-like, rock-solid concrete to craft this soft, heavy-set young figure with curly hair and rounded off forms—appearing as a kind of female version of a kouros, representative of the idea of youth. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Ancient Egyptian Style Creature, circa 1970s concrete sculpture Cassilly has created this ancient looking whimsical creature out of concrete, and the characteristics of its facial features and headdress make it appear to be something out of ancient Egypt or perhaps elsewhere in ancient North Africa. It is majestically seated, much like a classic guardian lion, and its face closely resembles that of the lion-headed Punic god sculpture held at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Children with Unicorn Relief Panel fiberglass and concrete This huge elegant ancient-looking bas relief panel depicts three naked children at play in a forest along with a gigantic unicorn. Although the legendary unicorn is proverbial for its untameable nature, it appears to be acting as a friendly pet to these children in this wild woodland: one boy sits atop the unicorn (as if riding a horse), a second boy rests on a branch above the unicorn, and a little girl stands in front of the unicorn looking up toward the sky. The unicorn appears in Bible scripture and has since been famous in the arts for at least 1000 years as a rare and magical creature representative of purity and grace—thanks to its horn with special powers. This panel was abandoned at the Lafayette Shop/Cassilly & Cassilly, and rescued by Giovanna Cassilly. The attached photos show the panels being rescued from the Lafayette Shop. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Caryatid, 1990 (refined by the artist in 2009) concrete sculpture This tall slender colossal depiction of a female has been crafted out of an earthly-tinged concrete. The beautiful and larger-than-life female caryatid stands tall with boldly shaped facial features and is strongly reminiscent of the ancient Egyptian quartzite and granite statues of Queen Tiye (or Teje), wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) Seated Lion, circa 1970s concrete sculpture Cassilly has created this small-scale pensive male lion out of concrete. The majestic seated adult feline with an intricate mane of circular curly locks looks down toward the earth, and its tail wraps around its hind legs. To a certain extent it resembles the ancient Greek seated lion of Venice's Arsenal (known as the Leone del Pireo) that had been looted from the port of Athens in the 17th c. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Bob (Robert) James Cassilly, Jr. Missouri, (1949-2011) From Baccanalia: Pan with Flute, 1991 bas-relief in fiberglass Link is thrilled to promote Cassilly's St. Louis legacy by offering a variety of his cement, stone, and wood sculptures that the artist once kept at his St. Louis home including Pan with Flute. This large-scale delicately painted fiberglass mold recalls ancient stucco reliefs popular in the Imperial era of ancient Rome (specifically from the 1st century). The relief features the wild ancient nature spirit known as Pan in Greek culture (equivalent to Faunus in the Roman world). Pan is a satyr (half man, half goat) and is associated with the forest, nature, fertility and spring, and wild rustic music. In the woods he fell in love with Syrinx who begged Artemis to transform her into something so as to avoid him; she then became a reed. Disappointed with the transformed state of Syrinx, Pan took up the reed and played it as a musical instrument. Since that time his attribute has been the pan pipe that we see him playing here in front of an a nymph and a young boy. This panel was abandoned at the Lafayette Shop/Cassilly & Cassilly, and rescued by Giovanna Cassilly. The attached photos show the panels being rescued from the Lafayette Shop. Bob Cassilly was born in St. Louis to a homemaker and building contractor (who clearly fostered in his son a deep interest in the properties and uses of cement). As a young man, Bob followed his talent and spirit that turned into an apprenticeship with sculptor Rudy Torrini. In 1968-69 Cassilly attended, on scholarship, The Cleveland Institute of Art. He received a B.F.A. in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis (1972-1976), and in 1980 Cassilly graduated Cum Laude with an MFA in sculpture from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. The artist settled in the Lafayette community in the early 1970s working prolifically out of his studio--which is where several of our featured pieces were born. He was soon awarded multiple commissions and would later open a foundry. With the help of Robert Sr., Cassilly's fine art collection dovetailed into playful urban projects steeped in the fabric of his city's architecture, design, and history, leading to the opening of Cassilly & Cassilly in 1985. Bob would integrate sculpture and architectural ornamentation to urban landscapes, adding character to buildings and neighborhoods that in turn helped foster civic pride. The company's goal was to bring sculpture and ornamentation to a mutual conclusion that seemed inseparable, preordained, and wholly natural. Cassilly and Cassilly specialized in the creation of unique sculpture and architectural ornamentation on a large scale--designed to integrate townhouses, offices, and public buildings with their surrounding neighborhoods. In this fashion, over several decades Cassilly served his community as a sculptor of beloved public works, as a cultural entrepreneur/ museum designer and owner, as an overall creative visionary who changed the visual (and thus the creative/ imaginative) landscape of each of the cities, buildings, parks, zoos and shopping malls where he left his mark. Across his native St. Louis he worked to save our old buildings and/or their important and often fantastical architectural elements to turn his hometown's neglected and abandoned material treasures into, among other things, elements of our wonderful City Museum (founded within an abandoned department store on Washington Avenue in 1997). His museum mission, "to reawaken the childlike imagination, joy and sense of wonder in all of us" simultaneously served to reawaken interest and respect toward St. Louis' downtown architectural heritage, ultimately saving a part of the heart of our city from total neglect and demolition. Bob also created the beloved outdoor red apple chairs in Webster Groves; many massive hippopotamus sculptures for children's playgrounds in both Central Park and Riverside Park, NYC; the wonderful gigantic cement turtles at St. Louis' Turtle Park; the whimsical musical lions playing on benches beside the gates of University City; the colossal ancient ruins of the "Escape from Pompeii" ride at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA; the turtles and toads at Lafayette Square Park; the fashionable 1980s style entry pillars at The St. Louis Galleria; et al. In an extraordinarily active fashion he fully dedicated himself to creating and enhancing the interesting and fun elements of our landscape and along the way whole-heartedly promoted our old-world artisan culture and local history on all levels and to people from all ages and walks of life. Unfortunately, Cassilly was unable to complete his major project in North St. Louis, Cementland. It also makes so much sense that back in 1972 when visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome it was Bob who acted as ‘first responder' to Michelangelo's Pieta'—it was the 23-year-old Cassilly who physically stopped a madman with a hammer from further destroying that Roman masterpiece (coincidentally sculpted when Michelangelo was also 23) before Swiss guards or carabinieri arrived at the chapel. Built in 1895, the building where Cassilly and Cassilly ran their studio is located at 2655 Lafayette Avenue here in St. Louis. It is from this building where Giovanna Cassilly, Bob's widow, rescued the abandonded decorative large-scale panels that Link is offering for auction. The studio was in this beautiful and distinctive large one-floor building known for its decorative terra cotta facade (featuring dragons) and a butterfly-themed fence. Unfortunately, this structure is currently in the hands of a 'developer' and at high risk for demolition. If YOU would like to help save Cassilly's studio, a true piece of St. Louis' material past, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL and/or write to the City of St. Louis Preservation Board at 314-657-3865 and preservation-board@stlouis-mo.gov and to Bennett Anderson there at andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov. Thank you for voicing your opinion and for your kind help toward saving a highlight of our city!
Robert "Bob" Cassilly American, 1949-2011 Untitled, 1980 Ceramic Signed and dated to top. Deep purple textured and glazed female torso in vaguely phallic form.
Robert "Bob" Cassilly American (St. Louis), 1949-2011 Untitled Ceramic Signed and dated 1981. Female figural sculpture with nautilus design to her hair. About the Artist: Born and raised in Webster Groves, Cassilly quickly shunned intermediary education in favor of an apprenticeship under Rudolph Torrini, another respected St. Louis contemporary sculptor. He later earned his bachelor's degree in art from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, during which he inextricably crossed paths with, while on honeymoon with his first wife in Rome, the infamous 1972 vandalization of Michelangelo's La Pieta by fellow sculptural artist Laszlo Toth. Cassilly is widely recognized as the first individual to restrain Toth at the scene - an event which, positioned at the emergence of Cassilly's career, serves as a small spark of the bizarre and whimsical course of his existence and legacy in the St. Louis art scene. Against all odds, Cassilly's crowning achievement, the City Museum, was erected from an abandoned shoe factory in what was then, a less-than-appealing side of the city - into a momentous sculpture/playground/museum that grew to be one of top tourist attractions of St. Louis to this day - a daring amalgam of repurposed material and architectural ingenuity unparalleled in the country. Up to his untimely, yet, according to those closest to him, characteristic death in 2011, Cassilly was still mid-work on his next project, a sprawling theme park in the skeleton of a cement plant on a bank of the Mississippi. Cement Land, the working title of the project, still has hope to be completed by those around him in his honor.
ROBERT "BOB" CASSILLY (AMERICAN, 1949-2011) Fiberglass, signed and dated 1984 lower right. Frieze panel depicting eight herons in carved relief. About the Artist: Born and raised in Webster Groves, Cassilly shunned intermediary education in favor of apprenticeship under Rudolph Torrini, another respected St. Louis contemporary sculptor. He earned his bachelor's degree in art from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, during which he inextricably crossed paths with, while on honeymoon with his first wife in Rome, the infamous 1972 vandalization of Michelangelo's La Pieta by fellow sculptural artist Laszlo Toth. Cassilly is widely recognized as the first individual to restrain Toth at the scene - an event which, positioned at the emergence of Cassilly's career, serves as a small spark of the bizarre and whimsical course of his existence and legacy in the St. Louis art scene. Against all odds, Cassilly's crowning achievement, the City Museum, was erected from an abandoned shoe factory in what was then, a less-than-appealing side of the city - into one of the very top tourist attractions of St. Louis to this day, a momentous sculpture/playground/museum, a daring amalgam of repurposed material and architectural ingenuity unparalleled in the country. Up to his untimely, yet, according to those closest to him, characteristic death in 2011, Cassilly was still mid-work on his next project, a sprawling theme park in the skeleton of a cement plant on a bank of the Mississippi. Cement Land, the working title of the project, still has hope to be completed by those around him in his honor. 23" height, 60" width
ROBERT "BOB" CASSILLY (AMERICAN, 1949-2011) Ceramic, signed and dated 1981. Female figural sculpture with nautilus head dress. About the Artist: Born and raised in Webster Groves, Cassilly shunned intermediary education in favor of apprenticeship under Rudolph Torrini, another respected St. Louis contemporary sculptor. He earned his bachelor's degree in art from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, during which he inextricably crossed paths with, while on honeymoon with his first wife in Rome, the infamous 1972 vandalization of Michelangelo's La Pieta by fellow sculptural artist Laszlo Toth. Cassilly is widely recognized as the first individual to restrain Toth at the scene - an event which, positioned at the emergence of Cassilly's career, serves as a small spark of the bizarre and whimsical course of his existence and legacy in the St. Louis art scene. Against all odds, Cassilly's crowning achievement, the City Museum, was erected from an abandoned shoe factory in what was then, a less-than-appealing side of the city - into one of the very top tourist attractions of St. Louis to this day, a momentous sculpture/playground/museum, a daring amalgam of repurposed material and architectural ingenuity unparalleled in the country. Up to his untimely, yet, according to those closest to him, characteristic death in 2011, Cassilly was still mid-work on his next project, a sprawling theme park in the skeleton of a cement plant on a bank of the Mississippi. Cement Land, the working title of the project, still has hope to be completed by those around him in his honor. 26" height
ROBERT "BOB" CASSILLY (AMERICAN, 1949-2011) Carved wooden sculpture, signed to base. Nude female figure, together with copper rectangular podium. About the Artist: Famously known as the founder and creator of the City Museum in downtown St. Louis, Bob Cassilly has adorned the St. Louis area, as well as the New York Riverside Park, Dallas Zoo, and Sea World with his work since his career took off in the 80's. Born and raised in Webster Groves, Cassilly shunned intermediary education in favor of apprenticeship under Rudolph Torrini, another respected St. Louis contemporary sculptor. He earned his bachelor's degree in art from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, during which he inextricably crossed paths with, while on honeymoon with his first wife in Rome, the infamous 1972 vandalization of Michelangelo's La Pieta by fellow sculptural artist Laszlo Toth. Cassilly is widely recognized as the first individual to restrain Toth at the scene - an event which, positioned at the emergence of Cassilly's career, serves as a small spark of the bizarre and whimsical course of his existence and legacy in the St. Louis art scene. Against all odds, Cassilly's crowning achievement, the City Museum, was erected from an abandoned shoe factory in what was then, a less-than-appealing side of the city - into one of the very top tourist attractions of St. Louis to this day, a momentous sculpture/playground/museum, a daring amalgam of repurposed material and architectural ingenuity unparalleled in the country. Up to his untimely, yet, according to those closest to him, characteristic death in 2011, Cassilly was still mid-work on his next project, a sprawling theme park in the skeleton of a cement plant on a bank of the Mississippi. Cement Land, the working title of the project, still has hope to be completed by those around him in his honor. 48" height; pedestal: 18" inches height
ROBERT "BOB" CASSILLY (AMERICAN, 1949-2011) Carved, rough-hewn marble sculpture, signed to base. Nude female figure with outstretched arm, together with ebonized, wooden rectangular podium. About the Artist: Famously known as the founder and creator of the City Museum in downtown St. Louis, Bob Cassilly has adorned the St. Louis area, as well as the New York Riverside Park, Dallas Zoo, and Sea World with his work since his career took off in the 80's. Born and raised in Webster Groves, Cassilly shunned intermediary education in favor of apprenticeship under Rudolph Torrini, another respected St. Louis contemporary sculptor. He earned his bachelor's degree in art from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, during which he inextricably crossed paths with, while on honeymoon with his first wife in Rome, the infamous 1972 vandalization of Michelangelo's La Pieta by fellow sculptural artist Laszlo Toth. Cassilly is widely recognized as the first individual to restrain Toth at the scene - an event which, positioned at the emergence of Cassilly's career, serves as a small spark of the bizarre and whimsical course of his existence and legacy in the St. Louis art scene. Against all odds, Cassilly's crowning achievement, the City Museum, was erected from an abandoned shoe factory in what was then, a less-than-appealing side of the city - into one of the very top tourist attractions of St. Louis to this day, a momentous sculpture/playground/museum, a daring amalgam of repurposed material and architectural ingenuity unparalleled in the country. Up to his untimely, yet, according to those closest to him, characteristic death in 2011, Cassilly was still mid-work on his next project, a sprawling theme park in the skeleton of a cement plant on a bank of the Mississippi. Cement Land, the working title of the project, still has hope to be completed by those around him in his honor. 46" height; pedestal: 18" height
Robert (Bob) Cassilly American/Saint Louis (1949-2011) Patypus Birdbath cementland cement. Note: Founder of City Museum, Saint Louis Height 34 inches, width 27 inches
