4 May 2012
Verena Ruegg Collection
Not too much is known about the life of Verena Ruegg. The things we know can be counted in one hand, perhaps two, but definitely no more than three: She was born in San Francisco, CA. She attended Chouinard Art institute, and then Otis Art Institute. She participated in the 1932 Summer Olympics, competing in the Art Competitions for the United States. Her house was destroyed in a fire in 1939, but her husband, Fred Robinson, made every effort to save her paintings. The next year, her husband was killed by a car while out walking the family dog, Rags. She died in 1973.
Those are the few facts we have on her life. However, this collection contains 139 boxes (83.8 linear feet!) filled with a trove of Ruegg’s work. These items consist of sketches, paintings, etchings, lithographs, as well as programs and newspaper clippings, the majority relating to the ballet performances she attended.
Here are just a few of the treasures Ruegg has created. Definitely more than three handfuls:
(Click on each image to enlarge.)
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- Original Ballet Russe, 1947. From the Verena Ruegg collection (MS-P007).
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- “Martha”, 1937. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Lithograph of Myra Kinch, 1928-1936, From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Bolshoi Ballet, 1959. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- “Madame Butterfly”, 1937. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- “Interlude”, copy 2 of 50, undated. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Dorothy Lyndall’s dance classes, 1932-1934. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo with Alexandra Danilova, undated. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- “Choura”, The Biannual Journal of the Alexandra Danilova Fan Club, 1955. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Edna von Breymann at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, circa 1930. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Cards made for Ernest Belcher, 1960. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Ernest Belcher’s students, circa 1933-1935. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Trudi Schoop at the Philharmonic Auditorium, 1937. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Ernest Belcher’s students, circa 1933-1935. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Etching of the Hollywood Bowl, copy 4 of 50, 1931. From the Verena Ruegg collection, MS-P007.
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- Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo with Leonide Massine and Alexandra Danilova,1936. From the Verena Ruegg collection (MS-P007).
- Christine