Markers
of Distinction
|
Lorado
Taft |
At the beginning of the
twentieth century, when art
was traditionally classical and staid, Lorado Taft
made it romantic and personal. Taft is known for his
large scale public works, many of which are in
Chicago.
Taft enjoyed commissions
that allowed him to
interpret and express complex ideas. He believed
that public monuments can reflect the
ideas and ideals of their time.
Born in Illinois, Taft
developed his neoclassical style
at LEcole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Upon his return
to Chicago, he opened his first studio at this location, and began teaching
at The Art Institute of Chicago, where he would remain for two decades. He
taught at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois as well.
His rise to
popularity began in 1893 when his sculpture was displayed at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition. Ten years later, his influence on an entire generation
of artists was sealed with the publication of his book The History of American
Sculpture.
His greatest works include
The Fountain of the Great Lakes (1913),
installed at the Art Institute, and Fountain of Time (1922), which
is
located at the west end of the Midway Plaisance.